Good morning, Franklin.

Between April 4th and April 11th, the Tennessee County Clerk issued new business licenses to local operators in Williamson County, including several services in Franklin such as household management, hairdressing, cleaning, landscaping, and mobile cafés—reflecting the steady growth in our area. Business owners now have the permits needed to start offering their services to the community.

On April 9, 2025, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office—working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Franklin Police Department, Spring Hill Police Department, and Brentwood Police Department—enforced distracted driving laws along I—65 by making over 300 stops and issuing more than 250 citations while also arresting a wanted person. No crashes occurred and only two reckless driving incidents were reported as grant funds from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office supported the operation.

On Tuesday, April 8, the board approved a plan for a 120-key hotel at The Factory and a 1,250-unit Erickson senior living facility on Peytonsville Road that includes design modifications and traffic improvements.

The board also set a public hearing for May 13 to review an annexation and rezoning request to expand Colletta Park with new single-family homes and townhomes (the expansion adds nearly 6 acres and a secondary entrance).

Today, Tennessee State Parks announced they hired Ryan Jolley as the first accessibility coordinator to improve park access for all visitors — he will advise staff, train on disability issues, and lead projects that include new free all-terrain wheelchairs at 47 parks.

Jolley, who is legally blind and has experience from the Department of Labor, will use his background to help make outdoor spaces more inclusive.

Williamson Health and Bone and Joint Institute are partnering with Blood Assurance to host three blood drives in April to collect lifesaving blood donations for local patients.

The drives will take place on April 15 from 11 a.m. — 5 p.m. in the Bone and Joint Institute parking lot in Franklin, on April 21 from 8 a.m. — 12 p.m. at Williamson Medical Center’s Willoughby Meeting Rooms, and on April 30 from 11 a.m. — 5 p.m. at Tollgate Medical Plaza in Thompson’s Station.

Starting tomorrow, Mellow Mushroom will offer its pretzel bites for $4.20 in all locations and online with code MEL420 until Sunday, April 20.

The bites are made with a secret dough and tossed in garlic butter + parmesan with a choice of regular or spicy Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Cheese.

Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros led the Nashville Predators to a shootout victory by a 4—3 final over the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center on Thursday night.

The team will travel to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights today in their final road contest.

Open House Exploration

2-4 p.m. — 1342 Jewell Ave, Franklin, TN — Free entry — Discover your dream home in the charming Westhaven community with Southern charm and modern amenities.

The Great Gatsby Book Discussion

7-9 p.m. — Landmark Booksellers — Free entry — Dive back into the classic novel and see if your perspective has changed since high school.

Grand Kyiv Ballet: Swan Lake

7-10 p.m. — Williamson County Performing Arts Center — $49 Adults, $39 Seniors — Experience love and magic through the captivating performance of Swan Lake by the Grand Kyiv Ballet.

Kimberly Dana Reading Event

11 AM – 1 PM — Landmark Booksellers — Free entry — Enjoy a captivating story with author Kimberly Dana and her book Millie & Mina.

Sunrise Mass at the Markovich Farm

6:30-7:30 a.m. — Markovich Farm — Free entry — Experience a serene sunrise mass in the tranquil setting of the farm.

The Art of Reading Workshop

6:30-8 p.m. — Landmark Booksellers — Free entry — Enhance your reading skills with practical tips and strategies from expert Erik Rostad.

Book Signing with Kevin Evers

6-8 p.m. — Landmark Booksellers — Free entry — Engage in a conversation about Taylor Swift's strategic genius and get your book signed by the author.

Community Event with Grace Valentine

5-6:30 p.m. — The Format Fitness — $25 at the door — Enjoy an evening of community with encouragement, smoothies, and a discussion on friendship.

2025 Main Street Festival

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Landmark Booksellers — Free entry — Explore book signings with a diverse lineup of talented authors in the heart of Downtown Franklin.

Outer Limits Pokémon League Playtime

2-5 p.m. — Outer Limits Comics — Free entry — Gather with fellow Pokémon fans to play, trade, and win cool prizes in a fun environment.