Posted: Thursday, May 7, 2009 4:46 pm

School House Rock rocks the stage at the Center for the Arts this weekend.

Don’t forget Mother’s Day on Sunday and to leave out non-perishable food donations Saturday for the Rutherford County Emergency Food Bank for you letter carriers.

Residents are urged to place canned and boxed food (no glass containers please) into a sturdy bag and either hang it on the mail box or leave it next to the mail box.

All events are taken from the Murfreesboro Post Community Calendar, which can be found at www.murfreesboropost.com/mod/comcal.

Theater
Schoolhouse Rock Live! Junior comes to the Center for the Arts this weekend.

Tom, a school teacher nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV.

Suddenly, the Schoolhouse Rock bunch appear in his rec room and proceed to show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through beloved Schoolhouse Rock songs that cover a variety of subjects: math, science, history and grammar.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The Center for the Arts is located at 110 W College St.

To reserve tickets, visit www.boroarts.org/theatre/buy-tickets.

The Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Highway in Woodbury, presents Number The Stars… at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

During the German occupation of Denmark in World War II, Danish freedom fighters of all ages risked everything in daring attempts to rescue the Jewish population.

In this stirring new play, young Anne Marie and Kirsti face their fears as they try to help their friend Ellen escape to Sweden safely.

There are school show times May 5-14. For information or to make reservations, phone 615-563-ARTS (2787) or visit www.artscenterofcc.com.

Siegel Tornado Benefit
Siegel High students help tornado victims with a night of local music Friday in the Siegel High School courtyard and amphitheatre.

Admission is $5 and that includes music with Nocturnal Static, The Good Side, D.J. TX 300, Eric Masq (tag team battle with the DJ’s). To bring it even closer to home, one of the Nocturnal Static band members was a tornado victim.

Come hungry–there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks.

Tennessee Renaissance Festival
Travel back to 16th Century England in Triune at the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.

The village of Covington Glen comes alive again this year with the bustle of a Renaissance Marketplace. More than 60 skilled Artisians from all over the country display their wares from silks to swords, gems to jewels.

Flavors, aromas and tastes of specialty foods and drinks greet the festival-goer. Hear the sounds of Renaissance musicians and merrymakers as they echo through the trees.

This season the Tennessee Renaissance Festival is pleased to present Shakespeare's classic romantic tragedy, Romeo & Juliet.

The show will be presented by our in-house cast every festival day at 11:30 a.m. on the Highland Manor Stage.

The festival is easily accessible from I-24, I-65, or I-840. Take Highway 96 to Triune, follow the "Renaissance Festival" signs.

Adult 1 Day Admission - $18.00 Child 1 Day Admission (Age 6-12) - $6.00 Senior Citizen 1 Day Admission (Age 62 or older, ID required with entry) - $16.00 US Military Service Personnel (US Military ID required with entry) - $16.00 Season Pass - $65.00

The festival is open from 10am - 6pm and runs every weekend in May, including Memorial Day.

Battle of the Bands at the Battlefield
Visitors at Stones River National Battlefield will get the chance Saturday to listen to music of the Civil War era.

The day will begin at 10 a.m. with the third annual Battle of the Bands event featuring bands from Central Middle School, Blackman Middle School and St. Rose of Lima School.

The bands will play selected songs from the Civil War era while a ranger tells the story of a unique musical event that occurred prior to the Battle of Stones River.

At 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., the Olde Towne Brass, a costumed band that performs Civil War music with period instruments, will entertain and educate visitors with three concerts at the Stones River National Cemetery rostrum.

Each concert will feature a different set of songs, and the band members will also share stories that illustrate the importance of music to soldiers and civilians during the war.

Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Each concert will last 30-45 minutes.

These programs are a part of a series of interpretive programs offered at the battlefield during the year.

Stones River National Battlefield is located on the Old Nashville Highway northwest of Murfreesboro. Additional information is available at the visitor center, by calling (615) 893-9501 or at the park Web site.

MTSU Spring Commencement
On Saturday, MTSU will again feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center.

Candidates from the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, and College of Education and Behavioral Science will receive their degrees in the morning ceremony.

That afternoon degrees will be conferred on candidates in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mass Communication, and the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning.

Preservation Month Open House
May Preservation Month will be celebrated by the Heritage Partnership of Rutherford County with an open house and tour of Logan-Clark House from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday in Eagleville.

The restored, historic home is located at 1928 Cheatham Springs Road, Eagleville.

The tour will include lunch and self-guided house tour from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tour of the home will begin between 12:30 and 1 p.m., depending on the number of visitors present at any one time.

Military Academy Forum
Rep. Bart Gordon will hold a forum Saturday for students interested in attending one of the U.S. military service academies.

“Each year, I have the privilege of nominating Middle Tennessee students to attend the service academies,” Gordon said. “Cadets receive free tuition, room and board, as well as a monthly stipend. Upon graduation, they are commissioned as second lieutenants or ensigns in their branch of service, where they must complete a five-year service obligation.”

The value of a service academy education is more than $300,000. Representatives will be present from the Air Force, Naval, Military, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Academies.

ROTC program representatives from Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University and Tennessee Tech University will also be in attendance.

The forum, open to students in grades 8-12, will be held at 3 p.m. at the Patterson Park Community Center, located at 521 Mercury Blvd. in Murfreesboro. For directions or more information, call Gordon’s office at 615-896-1986.

Mid State Iris Society Garden Tour
The Mid State Iris Association presents its 2nd annual Iris Garden Tour from 2-5 p.m. Saturday.

This free event will tour both Murfreesboro and Eagleville area gardens.

To RSVP for the Murfreesboro tour, call Linda Hunt at 893-9651, Dan & Margaret Scott at 893-0595 or Evan Underwood & Larry Norris at 403-3139.

To RSVP for the Eagleville tour, call Paul & Melissa Sizemore at 931-364-5417 or Phil Williams at 615-274-6426.

Garden Lover’s Club Plant Sale
The Garden Lover’s Club will hold their annual plant and bake sale from 1-3 p.m. Friday at Carriage Lane Reception House located at 337 East Burton St.
 
The sale will not only include plants, but items very useful to gardeners and floral designers such as driftwood and mechanics of design creations. The plants offered are from the members own gardens. The items will be reasonably priced and club members will be available to discuss planting and growing instructions.

Lunch will be served at Carriage Lane Reception House  by reservation only at 615-890-3630.
 
The club’s role is to educate its members to be a good steward of the earth’s plant life and the interesting ways to enjoy it in floral design. The club is responsible for gardens on the Greenway, Oakland’s Mansion and Cannonsburgh and they also create floral designs for public buildings. For more information, contact Judy Stacey at 615-896-7170.

Go Red For Women Luncheon
Event, taking place from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Friday at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, will include pre-lunch health screenings, interactive health education workshops and a luncheon program including heart disease survivors.

Individual tickets are $75 and Patron tickets with VIP room access are $150.

For tickets and more information contact Chelsey Shults at 615-340-4126

Boy Scout Troop 320 Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction
Rockvale Boy Scout Troop 320 holds a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction fundraiser from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday in the Rockvale Elementary School cafeteria.

Meal includes all-you-can-eat salad, spaghetti, bread, drinks and dessert.

Tickets are $5 each or three for $12.

Fosterville / Midland Vol. Fire Dept. Yard Sale
Fosterville / Midland Vol. Fire Dept. is having a yard sale Saturday on Hwy 231 just cross the Bedford County line.

Donations  are still being accepted and volunteers will come pick it up. Just call Laketa Walker at 615-692-9781 for more information.