The Williamson County Community Band will close their 2011 free music series on Sunday, November 13, 2011 with a concert at 3:30 p.m. in Liberty Hall of The Factory in Franklin, TN.

The Williamson County Community Band is a program of the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department, and in 2011, the band, made up of 50 volunteer musicians, presented 14 free concerts throughout the county.

The November 13 concert will be the band’s first appearance in Liberty Hall of The Factory, a 12-building dining, retail and entertainment complex listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Liberty Hall is located in building 12 of the complex, and is accessible from any of The Factory’s entrances.

The public is invited to this afternoon of free music featuring Broadway and movie theme favorites, Big Band classics and patriotic numbers. Admission is free. For more information, contact Angie Halbrooks at the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department, (615) 790-5719, ext. 30 or visit www.wcparksandrec.com.

On Saturday night, August 20, Bridges will put on the biggest fundraising gala event of the year, one of the premier events on the social scene in Franklin TN:  Jokers & Jackpots.  Last year's Gala brought in over $49,000, which was used to fund the programs Bridges provides free of charge to victims of domestic violence:

• Crisis Intervention
• Temporary Shelter
• Case Management
• Child Advocacy
• Court Advocacy
• Community Awareness

Bridges supporters have a treat waiting for them at this year's Jokers & Jackpots Gala.  The Factory's Jamison Hall will be turned into a night club with casino-style games, food from local chefs, and music by the Clarence Dobbins Revue. There will be an exciting live auction where someone is going to go home with a mink coat valued at $8,500 from Regency Furs, dinner for eight at the historic Harrison House home of Pam Lewis of PLA Media, and more.  The silent auction is loaded with a dazzling array of merchandise and services...lucky shoppers are going to get some real deals.  And, at the end of the night, players will turn their "winnings" into chances to win a new iPad.

The Gala is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors; we hope you'll reward them for their efforts by sending business their way:

Presenting Sponsor: Molly Maid

YOUR Community Magazine, Graffiti Indoor Advertising, HobNob Franklin, Kroger, Lucid Marketing, Pam Lewis | PLA Media, Soroptimist International, Southern Events Party Rental and Event Company, Tennessee Centers for Laser Dentristry, and Tennessee Commerce Bank

Other sponsors include: Allegra Printing, Best Bet Events, Claiborne & Hughes Health Center, Empire Beauty School, Fifth Third Bank, First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Franklin Women's Center, Publix Charities, Quorum Health Resources, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Big thanks go to the Gala committee, chaired by Lynn Gore: Cricket Hughes, Silent Auction; Jana Kelly, Program; Dana Langfitt, Food; Susan Minor, Advertising; Kathy Bierl; Decorating Chair; Jill Cole; Christol Creason; Rosemary Evans; Laura Farmer; Lisa Harkins; Betty Little; Lindsey Milam; Capucine Monk; Kim Phillips; Martie Pratt; Nancy Puetz; Liz Quarles, Julie Russell; Sherrie Upton

Come join us..it's the luckiest night of the year!  Click here for ticket information.

Delicious cherries are at the Franklin Farmers Market now! Loaded with antioxidants with a sweet taste to boot, cherries are a spring time favorite with everyone. You’ll find them now at the Forgies Fruit Farm booth at the market, but don’t wait too late. Get to the market early, because the cherries sell out fast. And try out our recipe for a Cherry Crumble or the ooh, la, la tastes of a French Cherry Clafouti dessert. You’ll find them in our Favorite Recipes.

Tuesday Market is back! It’s the same market but a different location. Look for your favorite farmers in the parking lot of  Whole Foods Market at the corner of McEwen Drive & Mallory Lane Tuesdays from 3pm – 6:30pm.

The sweet flavor of strawberries combined with their deep red color and appetizing fragrance makes the fruit a seasonal favorite at the market. But not only do strawberries tickle your taste buds, they also are good for your health. All berries are full of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. The ruby red color of strawberries is caused by a powerful antioxidant that aids in the protection of the cell structures within your body. The phenol contained in strawberries also makes them heart friendly. Did you know that just 8 strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange does? So eat ‘em up. Get the strawberries you want at the market this Saturday. You can be totally healthy by eating just the berries. Or try out some great recipes, like one for Strawberry Slush, Strawberry-Poppy Seed dressing or the very decadent, but oh-so-tempting Strawberry-filled Chocolate Roll. You find 15 tasty strawberry recipes in our Favorite Recipes.

Think goat. While we in the United States drink good old cow’s milk, 72% of the world uses goat’s milk. Milk from a goat is very similar to that of a cow in taste, but it is easier to digest and is one-third richer than cow’s milk. Give it a try. Noble Springs Dairy now has Grade A goat’s milk for you. This Williamson County goat dairy farm also has delicious varieties of goat cheese, perfect to use in recipes or for snacking. Pick up a bottle of Noble Springs Dairy’s Goat Milk this weekend at the market. And because goat’s milk has no cream separation, it also makes great ice cream. Try out it out with our recipe for Goat Milk Ice Cream.  You’ll find it in the Favorite Recipes section.

From finding out about jiggly wiggly worms to finding out seeds magically turn into plants, classes at our Growing Kids Educational Garden give kids the chance to learn more about agriculture and where their food comes from. The weekly classes are designed for elementary school aged children. Classes are free, but space is limited. For info on the June  schedule and to register for the classes, go to the Growing Kids Educational Garden page. The schedule for July classes will be released on 5/26/11.

This week on the Beanstalks page, it’s the Scoop on Poop in the Garden! Click here and find out more!

Can You Carry A Tune? Pick A Guitar?

Good food and good music. That’s what you’ll find at the Franklin Farmers Market. We’ve got the good food covered all summer long, but we need your help with the good music. Long time market favorites, the Franklin Square Pickers will be playing a limited schedule, so more musicians are needed for the summer. And this year, not only will the music be heard at the market, but it will be broadcast as part of the Down Home at the Franklin Farmers Market radio show, brought you by Franklin Synergy Bank on WAKM 950 AM. To get more details, contact James Gardner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Everybody Needs Somebody and We Need You!

There’s a lot going on this year at the market and volunteers are need to help out. We need help with a variety of different jobs, including special events, office or computer work and market day operations. Click here to download our volunteer application. Whether you can help out every week or just every now and then, we’ll be happy to have you!

Questions, Suggestions or Comments?

Tell us what you think about the Franklin Farmers Market or sign up for the Farm Fresh newsletter or the Beanstalks newsletter for kids. Just click the on the Market mailbox or the Contact Us button and talk to us.

Pick Tennessee Products!

Thanks to the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program for supporting the creation of the market website.