🌱 Patch AM: How East McEwen and Pearl Park will change Franklin in 2026

What's up Franklin! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How East McEwen and Pearl Park will change Franklin in 2026
• Which Nashville closures still leave Franklin’s Otaku Ramen open?
• State seeks dependency and neglect ruling in Franklin juvenile court this March

Also on today's calendar: The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Franklin, TN and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 57 and low of 34 degrees.
• Friday: Cloudy, a shower in the p.m., temps: high: 54, low: 41.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 50 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Franklin to make headway on key infrastructure, parks projects in 2026 (wkrn.com) — Franklin is moving ahead in 2026 with major upgrades to East McEwen Drive and the new Pearl Park, projects that will reshape daily travel and recreation for residents. The road will be widened to four lanes with ADA-compliant sidewalks and a multi-use path, while Pearl Park will add inclusive playgrounds, sports fields, a Harpeth River trail, and a new stocked Robinson Lake.
   

2. Nashville restaurants we lost in 2025 and what will close in early 2026 (tennessean.com subscription) — For Franklin diners, the key news is that Otaku Ramen’s Franklin location is staying open even as its West Nashville shop closes and many other Nashville restaurants shut down or change hands. The story walks through a long list of 2025 closures and upcoming 2026 wind-downs across the metro dining scene, highlighting how rising costs and post-pandemic pressures are reshaping where Middle Tennesseans eat out.
   

3. Public Notices Published January 1, 2026 (sanfernandosun.com) — Residents should know that Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services has a dependency and neglect case set for final hearing March 16, 2026, at Williamson County Juvenile Court on Century Court in Franklin, with related filings handled through local DCS counsel on Columbia Avenue. The same public notice package also includes various California court summonses, probate filings, name-change petitions, and lien sales that do not directly affect Franklin but are bundled in this legal ad listing.
   

4. Nashville Then: A visual journey through 1965 high school sports (tennessean.com subscription) — A nostalgic photo spread revisits 1965 high school sports around Nashville, including a shot of Franklin High players gearing up for the Rebel Bowl against Manchester. It’s a fun look back at the athletes, rivalries, and big games that shaped Middle Tennessee’s prep sports scene decades ago.
   

📸 Around Franklin

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Franklin

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Saturday January 3

• PHS Wrestling @Wilson Central Duals
  Wilson Central High School , 419 Wildcat Way , Lebanon
  8:00 am

Monday January 5

• PHS Hockey vs. Montgomery Bell Acad.
  Centennial Sportsplex , 222 25th Ave N , Nashville
  4:45 pm

Tuesday January 6

• PMS Basketball @ SMS
  Sunset Middle School , 200 Sunset Trail , Brentwood
  4:00 pm
• PHS V Basketball @ Centennial
  Centennial High School , 5050 Mallory Ln , Franklin
  4:00 pm
• GMS Basketball @ BMS
  Brentwood Middle School , 5324 Murray Ln , Brentwood
  4:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• GMS Basketball vs. FvMS
  Grassland Middle School , 2390 Hillsboro Rd , Franklin
  4:00 pm
• PMS Basketball vs WMS @ PMS
  Page Middle School , 6262 Arno Rd , Franklin
  4:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Franklin, TN
  Franklin Marriott Cool Springs 700 Cool Springs Blvd Franklin, TN 37067
  6:00 pm

📣 Franklin Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday January 3

• PHS Wrestling @Wilson Central Duals
  Wilson Central High School , 419 Wildcat Way , Lebanon
  8:00 am

Monday January 5

• IHS JV/V Boys Basketball @ Nolensville HS
  Nolensville High School , 1600 Summerlyn Dr , Nolensville
  4:30 pm
• PHS Hockey vs. Montgomery Bell Acad.
  Centennial Sportsplex , 222 25th Ave N , Nashville
  4:45 pm
• PHS Check Points Safety Training
  Page High School , 6281 Arno Rd , Franklin
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Franklin PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• LOST CAT REWARD!!!
  Kiki our indoor cat escaped from the Preserve at Forrest Crossing two nights ago. We are desperate to find her and offering a $1500 REWARD!!!! She is… (Nextdoor South Royal Oaks)
• 2025 was great for donations and clean ups in the Nashville area!
  We cleaned up over 2 Million pounds of trash in the city!!! We also have donated to over 300 families of those in need. If you are looking to have… (Nextdoor Garrison Road)

• Drury Hotels Company, LLC posted a job opening for Night Auditor in Franklin. Apply here.
• Wendy's posted a job opening for Crew Member in Franklin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Franklin here.

Ok Franklin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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