Downtown studies, WWI display, Siegel EZ Swing Suit, featured ‘In the City’

A vision for a vibrant downtown Murfreesboro will bridge North Highland Avenue with the “Historic Bottoms.”  If you missed public comments before the Murfreesboro Planning Commission, you can still catch the highlights and more in this month’s edition of “In the City” on YouTube at https://youtu.be/T4LAt2l0aTs.

The April video magazine show, hosted by Cecilia Herrell, also showcases three Erma Siegel Elementary School fifth grade students heading to the National Invention Convention in Washington, D.C. with their EZ Swing Suit invention.  The suit enables challenged children to play on a swing without the risk of falling.  For more details, visit www.inventionconvention.org.

You can also watch “In the City” on CityTV (AT&T Uverse Channel 99/Comcast Xfinity in Murfreesboro on Channel 3, or on Roku) everyday at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Murfreesboro’s video magazine show is produced by Steve Burris.

Airing throughout April, “In the City” also features:

• Linebaugh Public Library is commemorating the 100^th anniversary of America’s entry into WWI in April 1917 with a month-long display to honor the service of Rutherford County residents who served in the war.  The display includes the artifacts of long-time resident Lawrence J.  “Frenchy” Lemieux.  In the City host Cecilia Herrell interviews Lemieux’s daughter Libby Green about the historical project.
• The City Stormwater Department and MTSU’s Stormwater Program continues a successful partnership in improving Murfreesboro streams and rivers.  Watch MTSU students at work during a recent Stream Bank Planting Event at Jordan Farm.  City Water Quality Specialist Josh Upham and MTSU Environmental Engineer Shelia Knight are featured in the water quality report.
• Protecting the 25-acre wetlands surrounding the Murfreesboro Discovery Center is crucial to having a productive ecosystem. The Discovery Center recently attracted some unwelcomed guests who are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.  Hundreds of Black Vultures caused roof damage and leakage during a January rainstorm.  The USDA was called upon to rid the Discovery Center of the habitat without killing the vultures.  To learn more about the local wetlands and the Discovery Center, visit www.Explorethedc.org.
• Murfreesboro City Schools want to see a Buddy Bench on the playground of every City school by April 2018.  The bench, which promotes friendship and inclusion, was invented by a 7-year-old student.  If a child is lonely, he or she simply takes a seat on the Buddy Bench. Other children are encouraged to interact.  MSC Superintendent Dr. Linda Gilbert, Scales Elementary School Principal Maria Johnson and City Vice Mayor Madelyn Scales Harris are big supporters.
• Also “In the City,” an upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection (May 13), MPD’s Kidnapping Prevention initiative and Oscars at Patterson.

CityTV’s monthly video magazine show features previous programs online anytime atwww.murfreesborotn.gov/itc, or watch In the City on CityTV (AT&T Uverse Channel 99/Comcast Xfinity in Murfreesboro Channel 3 and on Roku) every day at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Past episodes of In the City’s most recent newsbreaks can be viewed on our YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/cityofmurfreesboro.