Are you being held captive?
Learn if you are paying too much for Medicare Part B.
The wrinkled shirt in your closet has something to say!
Cool summer treats your dog will love.
Discover a rewarding profession in the cosmetology industry.
MYP ARENTS ARE celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this summer. My brother and I (along with our families) were able to give them a rousing 50th Year Anniversary party complete with out-of-town friends and family, a hotel chauffeur service, and delightful outdoor garden party vibes.
This year will be a smaller circle of party attendees, mainly those in and around their North Carolina CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community), but still a milestone worth celebrating. At slightly more than half that marriage longevity of my own (31 years and counting), a 60 year commitment can sometimes seem staggering - especially in light of the struggles of just trying to live peacefully in a home with another human being!
I am impressed with the shear dedication of a 60+ year marriage. All the shared experiences, hardships, losses, and joys over all those many years is amazing to think about. I have a friend who likens marriage to being two rocks in a rock tumbler that in essence “knocks all our pointy parts off.” Years of growth as a couple can sometimes really feel that way!
The promise to love someone “for better or for worse” is a tough calling. It requires a healthy dose of selflessness, grace, and compassion, along with a decided sense of humor - from both of you. As comedian Rita Rudner once mused, “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”
Now aren’t you glad that you married your very favorite person? I am!
Susan Cafferty Publisher + Editor Susan Cafferty Publisher + Editor
Kendra Menendez Editor + Administration
Meredith Hancock Design + Production Contact Information Post Office Box 24532 Knoxville, TN 37933 865.640.3015
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to find in today’s business environment, and we certainly don’t take that for granted. Our belief is that if we take good care of our team, they will in turn take good care of our customers.
It is our long-term staff plus the fact that we are a locally based, family-owned business that differentiates us from other tire and service stations. You can throw a rock down Kingston Pike and hit five different tire stores, but our job is to do more than just sell you tires and get you out the door. At Matlock, we want to be an all inclusive tire and repair facility that serves our customers better than anywhere else. We are a relationship based business, and our people enjoy greeting customers by name when they walk in the door.
EK: Where is Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair headed as a company?
Joe: We intend to keep our hometown, small business level of service by continuing to sponsor nearby schools and churches and by being involved members in the local chambers of commerce. At Matlock, it’s important that the dollars spent with us stay in our area to support the very community that has supported us. We have several 70th Anniversary events planned this year to honor the occasion, including some big sales this summer and fall.
We are also determined to stay on the cutting edge of industry and technological changes. For example, electric vehicles are becoming more common, and that is a definite shift in our industry - there are now tires made specifically for electric vehicles.
Cars are also more computerized than ever before. You used to think of a mechanic as a grease covered man with a rag hanging out of his overalls; mechanics are now more like computer engineers than anything else. We devote a lot of time to educate ourselves on new products and processes in order to be in the best position to continue to serve our customers. We recognize that includes being the leading experts in our industry.
EK: What is the best way for interested customers to find out more?
Joe: Please visit our website, where you can request an appointment and shop for tires without leaving your couch. If you would prefer speaking with a member of our team, don’t hesitate to call one of our shops. We want customers to be able to reach us in the most convenient way for them. With roomy waiting areas - both inside and outside - and a separate play space if you need to keep the kids occupied, your comfort is important to us. Our policy is to contact customers with any questions, issues, and pick up times rather than wait for you to call us. Let us know how we can help you.
Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair
Knoxville/Farragut 865.351.2656
Hardin Valley 865.276.6840
Lenoir City 865.986.6533
Maryville 865.238.0127
Athens 423.744.9828
MatlockTireService.com
Founded by Joe and Jane Matlock in 1953 as a Lenoir City Esso Service Station, the business originally served as a gas station for vehicles traveling on what was then the main thoroughfare through the state: Highway 70.
In 1960, the newly built interstate changed the traffic flow and forced Joe to update his business model. He opened a tire recapping shop, then added new tires to his retail and eventually entered into more maintenance and repair. Joe’s son, Jimmy, started working in the business “as soon as he was old enough to hold a broom” according to his mother, Jane.
In 1982, Joe passed away of a heart attack, leaving a 23 year old Jimmy to run the business. Through hard work and a tremendous group of employees, Jimmy proceeded with opening a second location in Concord (now known as Farragut).
Now with shops in Lenoir City, Farragut, Athens, Maryville, and Hardin Valley, Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair is celebrating their 70 year anniversary.
Photos by Golightly StudiosWITH SUMMER approaching, it is the perfect time to reevaluate the security of your property. If you are not properly securing your home, you could be increasing the chance of a home burglary. By acting now, you can easily avoid common home security mistakes to ensure your property is as safe as possible.
1. Leaving doors and windows unlocked
Doors and windows serve as an easy entry point into your home when left unlocked. Whether you forgot to lock the backdoor or left a window open, you are making your home an easy target for a skilled burglar!
2. Hiding a spare key outside
Still hide a key under the doormat to provide easy access for additional members of the household? Whether the key is under the doormat, hidden in a fake rock, or somewhere you think a burglar would never look, you are mistaken. Instead of hiding the spare key, leave it with a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member. Better yet, Smart Locks eliminate the need for keys, allowing you to take your home security above and beyond.
3. Providing cover for a burglar Burglars are sneaky; don’t make it easier for them by providing the perfect hiding spot. Take a walk around your property and look for areas that provide places to hide. Clear overgrown areas and keep trees and bushes near your home trimmed.
4. Leaving the garage door open Are you working in your yard all day? Did you forget to close the garage door after returning home? Not only does an open garage door provide easy access into your home, it also lets a burglar see what’s inside, potentially making your home the desired target. Most burglars pick a house after surveilling the neighborhood. Additionally, tools are most likely to be kept in the garage. Allowing easy access to these items can make a burglar’s job effortless! Keep tools and ladders locked away to prevent a burglar from using them to gain entry into your home.
5. Making it apparent that no one is home
If you have to be away from your home for an extended period, follow the home security tips below:
• Stop mail and newspaper delivery
• Have a neighbor park an extra vehicle in your driveway
• Arrange for someone to cut the grass
• Place interior and exterior lighting on a timer
• Refrain from posting vacation pictures while you’re away
These common home security mistakes are easy to fix and will help reduce the odds of a break-in. The best way to ensure the security of your home and family is with a reliable home security system. A home security system, installed and monitored by Fleenor Security, can easily be customized to fit your needs, providing you with the best security possible.
MY FRIEND JOHN rubbed his jawline as we talked. “Yesterday, I was mowing my yard and realized I was clinching my jaw,” he explained. “Of all things, I’m thinking about him at the weirdest times!” The “him” was a former boss who’d changed John’s job description four times in the two years he’d worked for him. John had quit when his boss had told him he’d “always held reservations about his competency.” Years later, it was a gut punch that still hurt, and it was affecting the quality of his work and personal life.
Sara is a 22 year old who just graduated from a local community college. Like many her age, her academic career was derailed by the Covid-19 lockdown and the onlineonly class work it brought. The isolation and learning style didn’t fit her personality, and she began battling severe depression and anxiety. Now, on the other side of it with a diploma in her hand, she’s very anxious about finishing her education at a four-year university. The memories of that time could potentially derail her life and future.
These are real people. Like many of my clients and friends, their experiences aren’t
BY DR. JIM BAILEY
simply details of their stories but impactful events that changed how they think about themselves and their futures. The lasting emotions and internal messages that they carry afterward will influence what they can achieve with their lives.
Most often the emotions are resentment or fear, though rage, hopelessness, powerlessness, and the like are common. These get transformed into self-messages that may sound like, “I’m not _____ enough,” with the blank filled in with smart, organized, talented, quick-witted, likable, or a hundred other qualities. Everyone carries some negative self-messages - it’s their power to influence our thoughts and actions that causes problems.
Psychologist Albert Ellis created a branch of cognitive behavioral therapy based on the impact life events can have on beliefs about ourselves and the world. He proposed that each of our life events gets interpreted and turned into rational or irrational personal beliefs that can influence our daily behavior. According to Ellis, if you want to know what someone believes at a core level, then watch their behaviors as
No one really teaches us what makes a job fit us and the life we want, so we struggle through trial-and-error, trying to make the right choices. Have the satisfying and rewarding work-life you want with the right information, tools and techniques.
Contact me for more information.
they live their lives. Most, he would say, live and act to prevent negative events they fear might occur.
Resentment, anger, and fear are often secondary emotions (emotions we experience in reaction to another emotion), often coming because we’ve been emotionally hurt. Ellis would say that after we’ve been hurt, we protect ourselves from future injury by getting angry or resentful and then adopt a belief that the person or event that hurt us is “evil” or “bad.” If our secondary emotion is fear, then we’ll believe we need to protect ourselves from similar people or situations. Either way, we end up living our lives from a defensive posture, trying to avoid “evil” people and fearing negative events rather than approaching the future as being full of possibilities.
I think Ellis would perhaps feel a bit prophetic if he were alive today. The way people talk about each other in mainstream and social media, and the way news presents people and events, indicates many are living lives of self-protection. The bible puts it this way: “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our words are often the best indicator of our beliefs and the messages in our hearts.
My friend John eventually concluded that if he didn’t forgive his former boss, he might just grind his teeth down to nubs. He also reflected on the pain he had unintentionally inflicted on his family, friends, and colleagues throughout the years and realized that he wasn’t a saint himself. So, he set up a meeting with the man and apologized for his part in the events between them. Now he’s freer to assume people are doing their best rather than expecting the worst from them.
Sara is working hard to replace the negative beliefs she holds about herself and her future. She wrote out her negative self-feelings and self-beliefs and is working to replace them with the objective truth of what happened, who she is, and what she has agency to control in her life. It’s a hard-but-healthy step toward living the impactful life for which she was created.
The thoughts, feelings, and beliefs you carry in your head and heart can hold you captive just as effectively as a jail cell by keeping you stuck in the past. Resentments, anger, and fears keep you happened rather than moving toward the possibilities that lie ahead. Courageously naming and replacing these, and sometimes taking steps toward forgiveness and reconciliation, are often requirements to be free to attain the life
“I read a review of European Fine Hardwood Floors in Everything Knoxville when I began remodeling my the home in late 2020. Valera and Svetlana met with me and my general contractor, and we were immediately impressed with their thoroughness and assessment of the work to be done. Their contract was explicit and accurate. Valera promised a nearly dustless installation, and that is what was definitely delivered. I would absolutely recommend them. My floors are gorgeous!”
– Janis Smith, Sequoyah Hills
GARAGE REMODELING is currently the fastestgrowing segment of the home-improvement industry. It’s a separate room - and often the largest room in the house - that is not only a place to park a car, but can be used as a workshop, storage for items that won’t go in the house, or an area to enjoy hobbies.
To give a garage a finished look and make it a more user-friendly space that’s easy to clean, renovations usually include a floor coating. While there are a few flooring options, the decision usually comes down to a choice between a standard epoxy or PremierOne’s polyurea coating, developed and professionally installed by PremierGarage, doing business in Knoxville for more than 15 years.
Do-it-yourself epoxy kits are widely available and easy to work with. The downside is many things can go wrong while applying the coating.
The epoxy may not set properly or have a weak bond to the concrete, it also takes a long time for the epoxy to dry and bond to the floor. And while the cost of epoxy is initially less expensive, epoxy also quickly delaminates when a vehicle’s hot tire bonds to the surface and peels it away from the concrete.
“There have been many improvements in coating technology during the past 20 years, and the preferred garage flooring is our polyurea coating,” explained Brain Falls, co-owner of PremierGarage of Knoxville. “Polyurea is a hard-wearing coating that’s widely specified in commercial settings where failure is not an option and floors are designed to last the test of time.”
For the longest lasting concrete floor coating in the market, PremierGarage technicians diamond-grind the floor to the ideal surface condition to achieve a permanent chemical bond. Other primary benefits of PremierGarage’s professionally installed flooring coating instead of epoxy are:
• Superior finish that cures two times harder, eliminating unsightly marks, peeling, or blistering from hot tires and abrasions
• Chemical, UV, stain, and slip-resistant
• Commercial-grade product that is guaranteed for 10 years
• Easy to clean
Available in a variety of colors, the flooring system is also perfect for concrete flooring in basements, front porches, and retail stores. Call PremierGarage and discover the affordability of transforming your garage floor. Home begins in the garage!
SHELF HELP would like to thank our wonderful customers for allowing our business to grow! We continue to add new products and ideas to enhance function and convenience for every kitchen, pantry and bathroom. Whether you’ve wished your home’s existing kitchen and bath storage were more efficient, or if you’ve experienced difficulty in reaching items due to a health or mobility issue, Shelf Help offers the perfect solution for your home.
At Shelf Help, we work with homeowners to evaluate, design, and install custom rollout shelving and organizers that fit right into your home’s existing kitchen and bath cabinets or pantries, providing you with easier access, better organization, and maximum use of your available storage space.
And for those who may experience challenges reaching cabinets that are too low, too high, or too deep, Shelf Help allows you to make full and far more efficient use of your storage space. With our built to order roll-out shelving, cabinet organizers, and pantry storage systems, tasks are made simpler with easier access to kitchen and bath items and with the added advantage of optimal usage of your existing storage space - at last, creating a place for everything and everything in its place!
Homeowners also appreciate how affordable Shelf Help is, saving 50% or more when compared to national brands.
Our clients are so pleased with the results, they say “We should have done this years ago!”
As experienced Knoxville-area kitchen and bath design consultants and a locally owned business, Shelf Help has the understanding and know-how to evaluate, design, measure, and professionally install solutions tailored to your needs and budget.
To learn how you can better organize your kitchen, bath, or pantry, call today to request your free, no-obligation, in-home consultation. Mention this article and receive up to $250 off with a minimum purchase.
Locally owned and operated, let Shelf Help make the most of your home’s kitchen, bath, or pantry storage space.
BY YVONNE MARSH, CFP ® , CPA
MEDICARE CAN BE complicated, and Part B premiums are particularly tricky since the monthly cost is actually based on your income from two years ago. For example, your 2023 Part B premiums are based on your 2021 tax return’s adjusted gross income (MAGI).
If your MAGI is above $194,000 for a couple ($97,000 single), you’re going to get a nice little letter in the mail announcing that you’re now subject to an IRMAA - or Income Related Medicare Adjustment Amount. Based on your income, there are five IRMAA tiers that can increase your Part B premium from the 2023 base of $164.90/month to the highest tier of $560.50/month. There is a Part D prescription income adjustment amount as well, which can add up to $76.40/month to your prescription plan cost. The IRMAA adjustments can catch you off guard - especially at two points in life.
The first is when you retire. As a new retiree, your income is probably not as high as it was two years ago, looking back at a tax return that reflects your peak earning years. The good news is that you can file an SSA-44 form to request a waiver of the IRMAA for any “life-changing” event that results in lower income: retirement, death of a spouse, divorce, loss of income-producing property, etc. It’s easy to do, and they’ll even refund you the IRMAA amounts you may have already paid.
The second point in life when the IRMAA can show up is when Required Minimum Distributions increase your income. All of a sudden your income exceeds that base tier, and here comes the IRMAA letter. Unfortunately, you cannot use an SSA-44 form to request an exemption. Instead, you’ve got to think proactively. Systematic Roth conversions leading up to RMD age is my favorite strategy. Lower taxable RMDs can hold you under the IRMAA threshold.
If that idea doesn’t float your boat, then consider the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) Rules. By donating any portion of your RMD directly to a nonprofit of your choice, you’ll reduce your taxable RMD, and that directly translates to lower reported income and cheaper Part B premiums.
Being proactive is key, so please don’t just resign yourself to paying the IRMAA. Explore your options and keep those Medicare premiums as low as possible for as long as possible!
SUMMER BRINGS up very specific food scenes for me; a hot grill with burgers and Mexican corn, watermelon and giant blackberries, strawberry pie, pulled pork, sweet tea, and colorful blankets spread on bright green grass - preferably in the shade or by the water. But nothing makes a blanket spread great quite like take out, and Knoxville has some epic options.
Consider a picnic classic and order sandwiches from Steamboat Sandwiches on N Central. Sandwiches are an underrated culinary experience, and to truly appreciate the crafty layering of flavors at Steamboat, I highly recommend ordering a signature sandwich. The Italiano is fabulous: pepperoni, salami, and banana peppers. If you’re less spice and vinegar, try the classic club with ham and bacon. Just don’t miss out, because while you can always build your own, Steamboat has an expert handle on flavor.
Barbecue is another great summer food. A bit of advice, tag team the buns, potato chips, and baked beans, but buy the meat by the pound. Smoking meat takes time and skill, and I’ve personally found plenty of local options
for fall-off-the-bone, eat-it-from-thepan with no fixin’s or sauce pulled pork. Mostly I encourage you foodies to pick up whatever is on the way, but Archer’s, Sweet Pea’s, and my previous favorite, Dead End, are all safe bets. If you’re willing to drive for unrivaled flavor, check Facebook for the location of the Smokin’ F BBQ food truck. It’s worth all the effort, I promise.
Finally, turn up the heat and try Taqueria La Herradura off Kingston Pike in Bearden. Order the taco plate: street tacos, steak or chicken, in corn tortillas, plus beans and rice. Every meal comes with green and red salsa. Heat lovers like me go green, the red’s for people who’d rather feel the heat than taste the food. Even if you forego salsa entirely, always squeeze the lime.
Knoxville has great picnicking parks, and I recommend Lakeshore off Northshore. Extensive walking paths, plentiful parking, nice playgrounds, and trees for shade (or hammocks) make it perfect for family gatherings, and big covered areas are good for unpredictable, East Tennessee weather.
Victor Ashe, a beautiful and recently
revamped park (complete with a dog park and disc golf), is close for those in Powell and North Knox, and Farragut has the Cove, Founders, Anchor, and McFee (splash pad!) - all with covered eating areas. Ijams Nature Center provides even more immersion in nature. If you’re an all-in or go home picnicker, there are state parks all across East Tennessee, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only an hour from downtown.
No matter where you choose to gather or what you bring to eat, enjoy the summer weather, and remember nothing brings people together like good food.
Riley Woody is a University of Tennessee graduate, Knoxville native and avid foodie ready for any adventure with her pen and palate in tow.
“Thank you so much for all the work you and your staff put in on my daughter’s car! I can’t thank you enough; you went above and beyond what was required to make sure everything was done correctly, and you kept me informed every step of the way!
I don’t live in Knoxville, but I would recommend Local Guys to anybody in the Knoxville area that needs collision work done! Professional, reliable, and knowledgeable. Local Guys Collision is a five-star company with a five-star staff, especially you, Ken!”
Donald Wynn
For most people, it is about privacy and light control, but window coverings can also complete the design of the room. As a finishing touch, window coverings can add warmth and texture, along with coordinating with the upholstery. When made properly, drapery is lined and/or interlined specifically to protect and give the fabric body. Our professional and seasoned installation team ensures a seamless install day. There are so many wonderful fabrics, trims, and drapery hardware at Shae Design Studio. We have thousands of fabrics to choose from $45 per yard and up. The motorization options are endless and all the rage. The average custom window treatment starts at $1,500-$2,500 per window depending on fabric, size, and hardware selections. Shae Design Studio interior designers will start with a $395 design fee to measure the windows and discuss your dreams and vision. We will pull fabric options, select hardware, and present drapery designs in a follow-up presentation. The SDS installers will install your custom window treatments in your home as a turnkey service. Additional interior design services are available for $125 per hour for custom bedding, furnishings, art, rugs, wall coverings, and accessories.
is part of The Arc Knox County, a nonprofit organization committed to providing programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities in Knox County; safeguarding their rights and protecting their welfare; and helping each individual achieve the highest possible level of personal growth and independence.
As I toured Sunshine Industries’ 26,000-square-foot warehouse, one of the workers called out to me. When I stopped, he eagerly described his work.
“These are tubes, and we have to do 25 of these,” said Adam* (worker names have been changed) as he showed me glass tubes being packaged for use in brick masonry work. “We put them in Ziploc bags, then Vanessa and Renee put them in boxes. Then, when we run out of these, we get more over there.”
Although Adam has an intellectual disability, he spoke confidently, and his pride in his work was apparent.
Sunshine Industries employs people who have intellectual disabilities, giving them an opportunity to learn job skills in an environment where they will not be exploited.
Jackie Johnson, Marketing & Development Coordinator for The Arc Knox County, said Adam has worked at Sunshine Industries for about a year. When asked if he enjoys his work, Adam said yes and enthusiastically shared his ideas for an upcoming fundraiser,
listing a car wash and a cornhole game as possibilities. He and his coworkers, all of whom have intellectual disabilities, seemed to enjoy working at their tasks and being part of a crew.
The program is owned and operated by The Arc Knox County, a private nonprofit corporation. Founded in 1953, The Arc is governed by a volunteer board of directors and an executive director. It is supported by fundraising and grants from the United Way and other organizations, as well as through contracts for goods and services
with privately owned businesses and the federal government. Sunshine Industries workers are paid an hourly wage as they learn job skills in a supportive environment.
Sunshine Industries is just one of The Arc’s services for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness, autism, and learning disabilities. The Arc provides employment and educational experiences for approximately 75 adults
“For some people, it’s supplemental. For some people, it’s kind of like a recalibration between jobs. But for some people, this is just their home. This is where they feel comfortable; this is where they feel valued; this is where they feel productive. There are people who work here, who if Sunshine Industries didn’t exist anymore, they would literally just be sitting at home.”
- Alexis Dyer, Director of Human Resources
(35 at Sunshine Industries), and it serves more than 250 families as part of their early intervention programs.
They aim to provide good value for the companies they partner with while also teaching the employees important job skills such as workplace safety and good work habits. According to their website, they have worked with more than 18 different companies during the past year, including DeRoyal, Elavon, and Twinings. Jobs include light industrial work subcontracted from area businesses and metal shop jobs. Employees do packaging jobs, as with Adam’s work, or perform tasks such as collating new user information packets for a credit card processing company.
Sunshine Industries also has subcontracts with the federal government to assemble bookshelves, office furniture, and other equipment used in government offices. An industrial-sized paint booth is also available if needed for these larger items.
The warehouse and metal shop look like a workspace at any industrial or assembly plant.
Alexis Dyer, Director of Human Resources, explained that the setup was “done by design. We wanted it to have the look and feel of a normal workplace. A lot of the equipment that’s back here was built on-site for us, so they have a lot of redundancies, safety features. That way, individuals with intellectual disabilities can use them.”
As part of their mission, Jackie noted that Sunshine Industries also provides support for the workers through job coaching, exploring possible career interests, and helping with transportation.
“Adam has been vocal about wanting to work at a movie theater,” said Jackie. The support staff can help him discover if that would be a good fit and work toward getting a job in that field. “They [employees] start working and start thinking about what else they can do and where else they would like to be in the community.”
As part of that support, Alexis said, “We
• Early Intervention
• Beta Homes
• Independent Living Program
• Supported Employment
• Community-Based Day Programs
• Facility-Based Day Program
• Leisure Services
try to focus a lot on that prevocational aspect here at Sunshine, because we do want the Adams or Hanks of the worldwe absolutely do want them, if that is their desire - to be competitively employed.”
This focus is in line with The Arc’s stated philosophy of helping individuals with disabilities achieve the highest and best possible level of personal growth and independence. Jackie added that as part of that mission, The Arc offers leisure experiences that the individuals might not otherwise be able to have, such as community activities like volunteering, attending local sports events, or participating in a music program.
For more information on Sunshine Industries, other programs, and potential partnerships or needs, please check out The Arc’s website at SunshineKCArc.org or call 865-546-9431.
Karen is a native East Tennessean and proud UT Knoxville grad. She is a retired top-producing Realtor and a writer and editor who, along with her husband, enjoys UT sports and travel.
Mission: Sunshine Industries provides short-term vocational training and long-term sheltered employment. The primary goal is to teach persons with disabilities pre-vocational skills and behaviors in order to move into competitive employment.
“DADDY!” TYLER exclaimed. “They’re building a million homes over there. How are they doing that?!”
Ok, so perhaps my son exaggerated a bit - he’s five, and the hundreds of homes being built down the road from us might as well be a million to him. However, he brought up a wonderful point. These homes are not spontaneously combusting out of thin air and landing on manicured lots for the 83,000 new residents of Tennessee as of 6/30/221 (looking at you California!). These homes are specifically built to scope and scale with the help of a master plan/blueprint.
Previously, we focused on the importance of knowing your purpose - your “why.” Our purpose should be the foundational blueprint for how we build our lives. Purpose should drive what we say “yes” to and perhaps, more importantly, what we DON’T agree to.
Knowing your “why” is the first step, but you won’t achieve it without action. Imagine hiring an architect to sketch your dream house in the mountains. You get the floor plans, the 3-D rendering, everything - and then you wait around and hope the house builds itself. Ludicrous, right? While we’re at it, we might as well jump on I-40 and hope we eventually end up in Honolulu!
All kidding aside, how many of us have
big dreams for the future (retirement, volunteer work, outrageous generosity, etc.) and just hope it eventually happens? We might save a little money here and there, but is it enough? Are we on track? Are we developing a system of good habits that tie into our greater purpose? In his book Atomic Habits , James Clear says “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Dreams will remain dreams until we act. And guess what - this is our favorite part! Putting on our “financial general contractor” hardhat and guiding you through the
process of building your financial house is why we’re in business! From laying the foundation of a thoughtful estate plan to crafting a custom look for your tax shelters, we’ve got your back! Don’t put off for tomorrow what can be done today. Give us a call so we can discuss how to craft a personalized financial action plan for you and your loved ones.
SageSpring Wealth Partners
136 Concord Road Knoxville, TN 37934 865.686.5202
SageSpring.com
1
census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-population-estimates.html Links are being provided for informational purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize, or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website users and/or members.
WHAT IS peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition where the small nerves, usually in the toes and feet, stop working properly. Most people feel burning, tingling, or numbness in their feet, which may cause them to fall.
What causes this condition?
There are three broad categories that cause peripheral neuropathy. The first and most common is diabetes. Another potential cause may be autoimmune conditions where the body starts attacking its own tissues. The third broad category can be labeled environmental, which includes things like certain medications, chemotherapy, or excessive use of alcohol that can damage these small nerves.
How does diabetes cause neuropathy?
All of the tissues in our body rely on blood for nutrients so they can be repaired. Let’s imagine that blood is the consistency of water for this example. In a person with diabetes, their blood will be more like the consistency of syrup due to the higher sugar content. This type of blood cannot easily flow through the small blood vessels that feed the nerves in their toes and feet. Eventually the nerves will start to degenerate and they lose the ability to feel their feet.
What are common treatments for peripheral neuropathy?
The most common treatments are medications. For many people, medications do not work very well to control their symptoms and create additional uncomfortable side effects.
Are there other options for people with this condition?
The providers in our clinic have an 85% success rate helping people reduce the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. It is not uncommon to hear people tell us that they can finally feel their feet again for the first time in years and that they are not as afraid of falling.
How long have you been helping people like this?
We have been treating patients like these for nearly 20 years and brought this type of treatment to Knoxville more than a year ago with great success.
What is the next step towards relief?
If you have been told that there is nothing that can help your condition, call our clinic to schedule a consultation where we will meet with you to find out if you are a good candidate for treatment.
Our clinic is often the last resort with the best results.
DON’T REPLACE YOUR KITCHEN, REFACE IT!
Enjoy your updated, beautiful kitchen in 3-5 days
Cabinet refacing is a quick and convenient way to give your kitchen a makeover in a fraction of the time and cost of a full remodel. You can also choose to install or replace countertops, tile back splashes, and more as part of your project If you like the layout of your kitchen and want to update the look and functionality without the high cost, headaches, or time required for a complete renovation, cabinet refacing is an excellent choice!
LET THE SUN SHINE IN WHILE KEEPING THE HEAT OUT!
K&P Remodeling is your exclusive area installer for super insulated Heat Mirror Windows – a recipient of Energy Star’s “most efficient” award 7 years in a row. Our award-winning windows block 99% of UV light to reduce fading in flooring and upholstery while keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Named a “Top 100 invention of the millennium” by Popular Science Magazine.
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LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SERVING KNOXVILLE SINCE 2012
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & Gardens is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate just outside of Nashville. Cheekwood has presented world-class art exhibitions, spectacular gardens, and a historic estate unlike anything else. As one of the city’s top attractions, Cheekwood has family activities, programs, and festivals to celebrate all four seasons.
This season, Cheekwood welcomes: Carmen Herrera: Estructuras
Now through September 3
Five boldly colorful, geometric sculptures by Cuban-born, American artist Carmen Herrera are featured as an opportunity to celebrate this indomitable woman’s passion for creating art. Her skyrocketing popularity wasn’t realized until she reached the age of 89 and continued until her passing in 2022 at the age of 106. Her story is an inspiration to everyone confronting the challenges of age and gender.
Begun in the 1960s, Estructuras (Structures) were derived from paintings that, according to Herrera, were “really crying out to become sculpture.” Herrera’s work conveys movement and rhythm through a careful geometric balance of lines, forms, and color, teetering between the solidity of a three-dimensional sculpture and the weightlessness of an ethereal shape lifting off the ground.
IF YOUR CLOSET is too crowded and disorganized, you probably have several blouses or shirts that you never see because they are crammed in the corner or laying on the floor underneath other clothes. Well, if that shirt could write you a letter, this is probably what it would write:
Dear Keeper of the Closet, I am really a nice-looking shirt. I fit you well. You used to love me, and you wore me to some of your most important meetings or dinner with friends. We looked so beautiful together. However, as time went by, I wasn’t the center of attention. I was pushed farther and farther back in your closet. I am feeling unloved and disrespected. You never look at me because you can’t see me! It’s dark and cramped back in the corner. And yes, I know I’m wrinkled, but you would be too if you were living in this crowded space where the other hangers are constantly stabbing me. Sadly, you are to blame for my condition. If you just took the time to give me - and yourself - a new organized closet system, we could both be happy. I can just see a new custom closet where I have glorious space to be my best self. I wouldn’t be a wrinkled mess and you would love me again. Please, call The Tailored Closet of Knoxville and set up a free consultation. They can design a new closet and show you a 3D rendering of the design so you’ll know exactly where I will be placed. The sooner you call, the sooner you and I can be together again!
We miss you, Your Crammed-In Clothes
P.S. A pair of your sandals and a pair of great-fitting black pants feel the same way!
If you are wasting time every morning trying to find missing clothing items, you didn’t need your shirt to tell you that you need a new organized closet system. From a closet to the family mudroom, or the garage to a home office, The Tailored Closet can help organize every room in the home.
The luminous light installations featuring the work of renowned British artist Bruce Munro return to Nashville in the exhibition LIGHT: Bruce Munro at Cheekwood. Munro first presented his award-winning outdoor art exhibition for only the second time in North America at Cheekwood in 2013.
The interplay between Munro’s LIGHT three-dimensional creations and the surrounding environment of beautiful vistas and manicured gardens - at dusk and after dark - heightens the sense of time’s passage, reinforced through works with expressed childhood and literary themes. Whether backlit sea glass or pigment on paper, his two-dimensional works comment on life through the “language of light.”
For more information, visit Cheekwood.org.
Photos courtesy of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
The Tailored Closet is known for its innovative and affordable in-home storage solutions. A custom design starts with an in-home consultation with a space-planning expert who listens, offers experienced advice, and discusses solutions to your needs that meet your budget. Then, using their proprietary 3D software, The Tailored Closet designs each space while at your home. You’ll see the finished project before it begins!
Take your shirt’s advice and call The Tailored Closet for a free consultation. You’ll love your clothes again.
Looking for a memorable birthday or wedding gift? These 4" x 4" x 2" travel jewelry boxes are as practical as they are special - perfect for any occasion and a single custom, personalized engraving is included in the price! Available at Make It Yours, 10541 Kingston Pike, Suite A in Knoxville, 865.444.6253, MakeItYoursNow.com.
The Callisto Mix coffee table, designed by Carlo Ballabio for Porada, cleverly combines different shapes, heights, and shades for an innovative and surprising result. Bronzoro matt lacquered closed pore wooden base and three marble tops of different sizes. Available at Nouveau Classics Contemporary Furniture & Interior Design, 101 S Gay Street in Knoxville, 865.525.4755, NouveauClassics.com.
Ready to make a statement?
This stamped wallpaper features both butterflies and birds and is available in five colorways. Available at Decorating Den Interiors | Kozar Design Team, 521 Lovell Road, Suite 205 in Knoxville, 865.392.6222, SandyKozar.DecoratingDen.com.
Best cookies ever! Discover the world of gourmet cookies at Kooky Cookies. Known for their delicious handmade stuffed cookies, they also offer gluten-free options for all 12 flavors, which change monthly. Enjoy nationwide delivery and consider their custom branded gift boxes for corporate gifting. Treat yourself better! Available at Kooky Cookies, 10710 Kingston Pike in Farragut (next to Gold’s Gym), 865.327.6797, KookyCookie.com.
Featuring plush seat cushions and draped in reliable performance fabric, the Riley Sectional from Universal Furniture brings a breezy sophistication to living spaces. Measures 122” wide x 96” deep x 36” high. Available at Shae Design Studio, 9700 Kingston Pike, Suite 11 in Knoxville, 865.313.2656, ShaeDesigns.com.
Whether serving guests or taking personal time to enjoy a cup of coffee, make the experience more pleasant with a hand-painted, decorative container for the creamer. These fun stoneware creamers can also be used for serving a variety of flavored creamers when having a party. Available at Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center, 9885 Highway 11E in Lenoir City, 865.986.7229, MeadowViewGreenhouse.com.
KITCHEN PANTRIES are invaluable… the perfect place to store dry and canned foods, appliances, dining accessories, and more. If you’re looking for a home décor refresh that will revolutionize your daily kitchen experience, try re-designing your pantry with organized storage.
Create your new pantry with accessories designed to make cooking easier. Pull-out racks for spices, wine, and baskets for general storage keeps clutter away and keeps you organized. Custom shelving transforms your old space into a beautiful, built-in case piece, created to hold everything in style.
Set It on the Counter
De-clutter your kitchen and increase its usable square footage by installing a countertop in your pantry to create extra space for prep work, canisters, barware, and other items that typically crowd your kitchen surfaces.
Use Decorative Cabinet Doors
Add fashionable cabinet door fronts for a
dose of dust-free elegance. Use clear glass to show off a special collection or backpainted glass or patterned resin to camouflage those not so attractive kitchen items.
Map Out Useful Drawers
Stop searching for that missing cloth napkin by adding space-saving, soft-close custom drawers. Store flatware, tablecloths, placemats, serving pieces, and more - keeping
things clean, neat, and at your fingertips.
Create Custom Cubbies
House seasonal dining decorations, TV trays, baking dishes, and any odd-sized items in custom-designed cabinets. For your air fryer, blender, and other bulky appliances, add pull-out shelves for easy access, and organize smaller items with sliding wire baskets.
Lighten Things Up with LED
Transform your pantry with LED lighting. Placed above countertops, tucked into shelving, or strategically placed inside, outside, or underneath cabinets, your pantry will become an efficient workspace day or night.
By professionally designing your kitchen pantry, you’ll be adding an update that will increase the beauty and the value of your home. Call the storage pros at Closets by McKenry today for a no-obligation consultation, and bring style - and ease - to your everyday life!
Closets by McKenry
201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922 865.249.6382
ClosetsByMcKenry.com
IT’S TIME FOR swimming, splashing, and relaxing in your swimming pool! Whether you’re opening your floating paradise for the first time this year or you’re a veteran “cement pond” devotee, you will soon be managing the many supplies, chemicals, and toys needed to run a happy and healthy place to play. Your garage can come to the rescue for organized storage of your pool supplies. Read on for four stylish ideas!
1. Prep for Sunny Days with Slatwall
To store a variety of sun-worthy pool items, use easy and attractive slatwall. Add hooks for pool brushes, rakes, and chairs; wire baskets for flip-flops, balls, and blow-up toys; and containers for storing small supplies like winterizing hardware.
2. Tidy Up the Pool Deck with Overhead Storage
Use overhead storage for your pool no matter the season. During prime time summer months, keep your pool and furniture covers up and out of the way. Off-season, conveniently stow your patio umbrella, oversized loungers, and floating volleyball net.
3. Conceal Your Pool Supplies with Cabinetry
Experience the convenience of custom cabinets by installing rods to neatly hang terrycloth towels and bins to organize chemicals, filters, and water test kits. Create a space for your pool vacuum, and add shelves to store your “best” patio cushions and pillows for when it’s time to entertain.
4. Add Style and Protection with a Poly Epoxy Floor
In the summertime, when bare feet are the look de rigueur, keep your tootsies happy on a comfortable epoxy polyaspartic floor. Available in endless color combinations, installation time is only a
matter of days. Pool chemicals accidentally spilled? No problemthese hardy floors are stain-resistant and easy to clean. With school out for the summer and the days growing hotter, now is the perfect time for poolside fun. Contact Chris McKenry and his expert team at Designer Garages today, and make your garage a trusty partner in keeping your pool supplies organized all season long.
Designer Garages
201 Center Park Drive, #1070
Knoxville, TN 37922 865.268.4868
DesignerGarages.com
JETHRO TULL: A band that has been in existence for nearly 60 years and spanned seven decades and 23 albums. Yet, inexplicably, they are still not inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That said, the band - under the steady leadership of Ian Anderson - is still touring and recording quality music.
To that point, the band has just released its twenty-third album titled RökFlöte . I recently caught up with the band’s iconic flutist and leader to chat about the new album. Because some call Jethro Tull “a thinking man’s band,” I asked Ian if he was ever concerned about essentially playing over the fans’ heads.
“Honestly, I’ve never really thought about writing with the view of trying to please fans or in terms of lyrics,” he said. “I’m really not thinking about impressing the members of the band, let alone fans or anybody else. I’m doing what I do because it’s something I feel I have a passion for, and I’m trying to do it as well as I can. But I’m not really worried about losing fans at any time. I’m sure it must happen. Inevitably, there are some people who just think, ‘Well, that’s not for me, I don’t really want to listen to this or read the words.’
“But I think you can have things that work on more than one level. So, it’s not really just a question of making the assumption that people are going to read the lyrics. I think the majority of people don’t - I mean, I know when I hear music, I quite often have to correct my way of thinking and try to examine what the lyrics really are because I either just don’t take the trouble to listen, or I listened but it doesn’t actually sound that interesting. And so, I ignore it and then I have to come back to it and say, ‘No, I must really read these lyrics and see if they make some better sense if I apply my time and effort.’
“So, that’s happened to me on a few occasions with bits of music I didn’t think I liked, and then I decided after reading the lyrics that I did like them. So, I guess that could happen anytime with my music - my lyrics, too - but it’s not going to drive me to write in a certain way. Never has, never will.”
Jethro Tull’s previous album, The Zealot Gene, was met with critical acclaim. When one listens to RökFlöte , there is no sense of listening to Zealot leftovers but to fresh music written just for this album. I asked Ian if that was the case.
“Yes, you’re quite correct, because The Zealot Gene really began in 2017, and by the time 2018 rolled around, I only really finished four of the seven tracks that we’d recorded. And then, in the following year, we were really busy. Covid came along. And so, it was just a long wait really before The Zealot Gene was finally finished - or the last five tracks being recorded during the lockdown period when I just had to work alone from home. The delivery to the record company meant that the record was released in January 2022. On the first of January 2022, I began work on a new album, which was just recently released.”
I asked Ian about tour dates in support of the new album.
“Well, we’ve been hitting the road since the summer of 2021,” he said. “So, we’re all in reasonably fighting trim. And, you know, physically and mentally. I think you really got to do what you can to stay in good shape, because two hours of aerobics at my age is not to be taken lightly. I try and make sure I’m well prepared and well rehearsed before I start doing any concerts - especially if I’ve had a week or two off, you know, then I have to
get back to that level of mental and physical fitness again. So far it seems to work. So far it’s I might fall off the bicycle, but I can still get back on and pedal away.”
There is a lot more to this interview where Ian explains how the album name and concept came about, the misappropriation of the umlaut, and his current world view. Visit Boomerocity.com, the Boomerocity YouTube channel, or your favorite pod cast platform to hear the interview in its entirety.
There are North American tour dates scheduled, beginning around the end of the summer, so be sure to visit JethroTull.com for dates and locations.
Randy’s first interview was at the tender age of 13 with none other than Col. Tom Parker. Thirty-six years later, he founded the webzine, Boomerocity.com, and has conducted more than 400 interviews with some of the most interesting people in music.
WHEN IT COMES to your floors, soil is any foreign matter that accumulates, including dirt, dust, grease, or cleaning chemicals. As your family and pets move throughout the home, these contaminants are spread from one room to another, from carpet and hardwood to tile and back again. This process can leave the homeowner frustrated and not sure what to do.
When one part of your home is cleaned, the soil load from other areas will quickly contaminate the cleaned areas, making your effort futile. In addition, the very act of scrubbing a kitchen or bathroom floor pushes tiny particles of dirt, oil, and grime deeper within your floor, causing it to look dingy and discolored. Without a deep down, pore cleansing, extraction method of cleaning, one can only hope to reach the surface level of the floor, which has little effect on its appearance. This process just keeps repeating itself, so the home environment never gets truly clean.
Surface Doc also offers “Soft Washing” of siding and roofs for both businesses and homeowners, including stucco, cedar, vinyl, aluminum, stone, brick, slate, clay, asphalt, etc. We will safely clean your siding and roof without the use of high pressure. Get rid of the green and black algae on your home.
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE.
Getting proactive will stop this grimy process in its tracks, eliminating all embedded soil from within your tile and grout or concrete, as well as removing dust mites, soil, and traffic patterns from your carpets. Your floors will be sanitized, grout returns to its natural color, and all soil that’s been deeply embedded in your flooring is extracted and evacuated. Once all the flooring types in your home have been cleaned and sanitized, it’s a great idea to seal your tile and grout and concrete areas.
JOHN FITZWILLIAMSurface Doc’s high-quality sealer is backed by a lifetime guarantee and will make future cleaning easy. Imagine never using a chemical on your floor again. As for carpets, Surface Doc recommends using a Teflon Guard to protect the carpet fibers from pet stains, accidents, and dirt.
Once your entire home is shining from the inside out, from the driveway and garage floor to the bedroom and bathrooms, maintaining it will be a breeze. A clean home will make your step a little lighter and your day a little brighter.
Call Surface Doc today to get a dysfunctional environment functional again. Of course, the demonstration is absolutely free, and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Visit us online to view before and after pictures at SurfaceDoc.com, or give John a call at 865-567-1986.
Surface Doc
865.567.1986
SurfaceDoc.com
Our facility comes with spacious, supervised playrooms where dogs are placed according to their size, temperament, and play style to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for your beloved pet.
EVERYONE LOVES a nice, cold treat during the warm summer months. Who says dogs can’t enjoy one, too? Below are a few chilled treat recipes made especially for dogs! As a reminder, all frozen treats should sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften before being given to your pup to prevent any dental injuries.
Frozen Fruits & Veggies
Pups love snacks with a crunch. Switch up your dog’s favorite fresh treat by freezing it. Not only will it taste chilled and delicious, but your pup will take extra time enjoying it as they lick the treat while it softens. A few other pup favorites are frozen chunks of banana, strawberries, peaches, carrots, and green beans.
Icy Broth Treats
Dogtopia.com/Bearden-Knoxville
Does your dog enjoy treats with a savory flavor? Chicken, beef, vegetable, and bone broth can all be frozen in ice cubes trays. Want to level up your broth treats? Here are two ways to get creative:
1. Mix broth with peanut butter and parsley before freezing.
2. Freeze different broth flavors in layers - with every lick, your furry friend will experience a different flavor!
Pup-Approved Yogurt Treats
Dice or puree fruit (remove the rind, seeds, or other hazards that may be hard on a dog’s stomach), then mix with plain yogurt and freeze. The fruit dogs seem to enjoy the most are cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pineapple, and apple. Yum!
Frozen KONG®
Looking for a way to keep your dog occupied during the hot summer months? Grab a KONG and fill it with any of the treats listed above or a spoonful or two of peanut butter. Once filled, pop the filled KONG in the freezer and wait for all contents to firm. This treat will cool your pup down while keeping their brain stimulated!
As with any treat, please be mindful of your dog’s specific dietary needs and restrictions. If you have any questions about what your pup can and cannot enjoy, do not hesitate to reach out to your local veterinarian. And remember, treats are meant to be enjoyed in moderation, so make it a special event and only allow your pup to enjoy a bit at a time!
Dogtopia of Bearden-Knoxville
5213 Homberg Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
865.622.2599
Dogtopia.com/Bearden-Knoxville
To those cosmetology graduates beginning your journey in this fulfilling profession, you’ll find that your job in the salon is one of a kind. Not only do you get to utilize your artistic ability to give those in your chair fantastic new hair, but you also give them confidence. Stylists are an asset to their guests. We teach them how to manage their hair through our professional knowledge. We listen when they need someone. We offer a hug or reassurance when we see fit. We form a connection, a bond, a friendship with our clients that is personal and gratifying.
When it comes to choosing where to spend your days, we invite you to Ross the Boss Salons. You, the stylist - and you, the client! Here we are about community.
TRAVEL FOR pure enjoyment is on the rise, so this may be your year to plan the ultimate dream vacation.
According to Sports and Leisure Research, 80% of people surveyed believe a vacation does wonders for mental health and travel is a top spending priority in the coming year. The survey indicated travelers want to immerse themselves in unique experiences, including new cultures, foods, and people.
For those who delight in exploring entire regions, one downfall can be the burden of packing and unpacking at each new destination. Taking your accommodations with you is a practical alternative for curious travelers.
River voyages, for example, allow travelers to unpack once and visit multiple destinations in one seamless journey, from major European cities to quaint towns and villages. These destination-focused journeys offer experienced travelers the opportunity to explore science, history, and cuisine with culturally enriching itineraries
on the world’s great waterways.
If an intimate, relaxed journey is your ideal getaway, you may want to consider the revolutionary Viking Longships. These stateof-the-art river ships are engineered with guests’ comfort and exploration in mind. Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning fleet of identical longships showcase innovative engineering, streamlined Scandinavian design, and understated elegance. River ships are also small enough - hosting 190 guests - to dock in the heart of popular destinations, making it easy to explore.
The voyages range from 8-23 days with itineraries featuring Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, RhÙne, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne, and Gironde Rivers.
Known as travel experiences for “The Thinking Person,” each Viking journey includes a shore excursion in every port and an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in
the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks, and carefully selected guest lecturers. Enjoy shore excursions that provide historical tours and visits to unique haunts, where you can experience some of the local culture, regional foods, and everyday life.
On a Viking Longship, you can expect to relax in sizeable public areas, including wideopen sun decks with ever-changing views. The ships feature spacious staterooms in a variety of categories, including true tworoom suites with full-size verandas.
Additional ship highlights include al fresco dining on an indoor-outdoor terrace and onboard amenities, including a restaurant, bar, lounge, and library. Inclusive fares that cover your port taxes and fees also mean you can enjoy beer, wine, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, specialty coffees, teas, bottled water, ground transfers, and more.
Chart your next adventure at Viking.com.
AFTER DOWNSIZING to a maintenance-free condo in late 2021, Knoxville resident Vickie Lawson knew that it was time to renovate the bathroom showers. With her husband’s health issues and a combination bathtub/shower in both bathrooms, a low threshold shower was a high priority.
“We wanted to make our home as easy to navigate and access as possible,” Vickie recalled. “Entering and exiting an older age tub can be extremely hazardous, so we started to research the available options for updating to a walk-in shower.”
The process led them to get an estimate from Knox Showers.
Knox Showers’ unique solid-surface materials come in a variety of styles and finishes, allowing a custom shower with new fixtures, niches, glass panel, and doors - at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction. Not only are their showers incredibly easy to clean, they are also mold and mildew resistant. And with added shower safety features like built-in seats and grab bars, the showers can be optimized for now and the future.
“Their estimator was so professional and not pushy or aggressive in any way,” Vickie explained. “His knowledge of their products, the timeframe from ‘order to finish,’ and the overall price was what led us to choose Knox Showers for the job. I never felt rushed while considering samples, and they were great at helping me decide which shower system would blend the best with the existing elements in the bathroom that would not be changing.”
The Lawsons decided to have Knox Showers update and install both bathroom showers, so timing was important in order to have a working shower in the home. The couple was notified when the order for the unit was placed, along with a timeline for expected delivery.
“I am thinking it was around three days,” Vickie said happily. “And
“We wanted to make our home as easy to navigate and access as possible ... Entering and exiting an older age tub can be extremely hazardous, so we started to research the available options for updating to a walk-in shower.”
– Vickie Lawsonwith back-to-back shower installations in a condo built in 2008, they did run into some plumbing issues and had to drill more concrete than expected. Everything was done cleanly with no construction debris ever left for us to have to deal with.”
Knox Showers impressed the Lawsons even more by using their time wisely to do the finishing touches on the first shower installation while the second shower was being set.
Vickie explained that she is not a “patient customer” when businesses overbook by selling jobs that they cannot complete in a timely manner. “Knox Showers did what they said they would do. We got what we paid for and the quality we were expecting - we consider ourselves happy customers! I highly recommend Knox Showers, and if potential customers do their homework, they will find they are the most reasonable and most reliable.”
If you have been putting off updating a full bathroom due to inconvenience and cost, Knox Showers is your perfect resource, offering affordable, great-looking solutions - installed in days, not weeks.
Knox Showers
865.622.5088
KnoxShowers.com
DESIGN, FASHION, and function are all key to Paula’s designs. A sharp awareness of new trends around the world has kept her a step ahead of the competition. She also has the unique ability to connect with her clients on a personal level. That connection and experience create energized, inspired, comfortable spaces.
“I sell a complete package… whether the client is buying one piece or a whole room, I am there from beginning to end,” states
Paula. “Listening to my clients, helping them achieve the look they are after, originality, and customer service are key elements to a successful end result.”
Paula has 30+ years’ experience in retail furniture and interior design through her business, Nouveau Classics. During this time, she has built long-term relationships with high-design companies that offer superior, quality products from Europe, Canada, and the U.S. As a result, Paula is able to offer nothing but the best for her clients.
Whether you engage Paula for designing, renovating, or staging, she will challenge you to take your spaces to a new level. One that is beautiful, sophisticated, and stands the test of time.
Nouveau Classics Contemporary Furniture & Interior Design
101 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
865.525.4755
NouveauClassics.com
GARDENING CAN BE a simple way to beautify your yard, relieve stress and potentially save money on your grocery bill, but like any hobby, you don’t want to get carried away buying necessary equipment. Fun, frugal and environmentally friendly, these tricks can help you create a cost-effective garden:
1. Use a yardstick and permanent marker to mark inches and feet on the handle of your rake, shovel or hoe. The next time you plant, simply lay the marked handle along the row to create perfectly spaced holes for seeds.
2. Line the bottom of a clay pot with a coffee filter to keep soil from leaking out the bottom hole.
3. Use empty plastic water bottles or clear milk jugs to fill up the bottom of large pots. Not only do they reduce the weight of the pot, it will require less soil to fill it!
4. To test seeds to see if they’re still viable for this planting, place a wet paper towel inside a zip-top bag, drop in 3-4 seeds and wait a week to see if anything grows.
5. One way to help prevent weeds is to line your garden with a layer of newspaper. Just top two or three sheets of newsprint with a layer of pine needles, grass clippings or dried leaves for an eco-friendly and inexpensive weed barrier.
6. Keep gardening twine handy. Nail a funnel to your potting bench with the spout pointing downward, feed the twine through and your string will never go missing. For a more portable solution, place a ball of twine inside a canning jar, make a hole in the lid and feed the end of the twine through the hole. Now, you can take twine anywhere, tangle-free.
7. There is no need to buy expensive potting systems for starting seedlings. Place several cardboard toilet paper rolls inside a clean plastic clamshell, like those used for premade salads. Fill each cardboard tube with potting soil and plant. Once your seedlings grow too tall for the clamshell, simply cut the the top lid off. Find more ideas for creating a garden without spending a bundle at eLivingtoday.com.
“Decorating is not just about function, it’s also about fashion.”
– Paula ClancyPhoto courtesy of Unsplash COURTESY OF FFE
THE
emotion, and energy of Broadway reaches new heights at the Tennessee Theatre with a 2023-24 lineup poised to entertain and delight. With six titles and a total of 56 performances, the complete lineup of the upcoming season of Broadway at the Tennessee Theatre includes:
• SIX Oct. 31-Nov. 5 (8 performances)
• Jagged Little Pill Dec. 5-10 (8 performances)
• Wicked Jan. 10-21, 2024 (16 performances)
• Hadestown March 5-10, 2024 (8 performances)
• Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird April 2-7, 2024 (8 performances)
• Beetlejuice June 11-16, 2024 (8 performances)
Existing subscribers of the Broadway at the Tennessee series will have renewal periods based upon subscription type, providing the opportunity to renew and secure their season tickets before new subscriptions and single-show tickets go on sale.
Subscription packages are now on sale to the public. Subscriber benefits include first notification of season lineups, the opportunity to purchase tickets to individual shows before the general public, reduced ticket fees and the best available prices of the season, and the ability to renew the subscription for the 2023-2024 season.
oming off the heels of the biggest Broadway season we’ve ever had, this next season is sure to keep the bar high. We are delighted to finally share this season’s titles, one that features all six shows in their Tennessee Theatre premiere. We look forward to once again entertaining tens of thousands of returning and new patrons at the Official State Theatre of Tennessee.
Becky Hancock, Tennessee Theatre Executive Director
show - is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music. Directed by Tony Award ® winner Diane Paulus ( Waitress, Pippin, 1776 ) with a Tony Award ® -winning book by Diablo Cody ( Juno ) and Grammy Award®-winning score, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family “vaults the audience to its collective feet.” (The Guardian).
The Broadway sensation Wicked looks at what happened in the Land of Oz... but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a popular bubbly blonde, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships... until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards ®, including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy Award ® for Best Musical Theater Album, Hadestown from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin ( Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today… and always. Intertwining two mythic tales - that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone - Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.
Visit TennesseeTheatre.com/Broadway or call the Tennessee Theatre box office at 865-684-1200, ext. 2, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm to purchase a new subscription.
The 2023-2024 season of Broadway at the Tennessee features a diverse lineup of stories set to come to life on the stage of the historic Tennessee Theatre for the first time. Each show in the upcoming series will make its Knoxville premiere.
From Tudor queens to pop icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over. The SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed 6 million streams in its first month.
Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE - Jagged Little Pill has everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway
The New York Times Critic’s Pick To Kill a Mockingbird is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60 Minutes). New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher, To Kill a Mockingbird - “the greatest novel of all time” (Chicago Tribune) - has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).
It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, Beetlejuice, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is “screamingly good fun!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every ‘Day-O!’
For details and updates, visit TennesseeTheatre.com.
GATHERINGS IN THE summer sun are all about easy, convenient recipes combined with the joy warm weather brings. Spend those special occasions with those you love most and make this summer one to remember with flatbreads and sliders for all to share.
Keeping cooking simple means more time on the patio or in the backyard engaging with guests, and Chipotle Chicken Flatbreads and Chicken Shawarma Sliders let home chefs skip complicated kitchen duties without skimping on flavor.
When dining outdoors with family, friends, and neighbors, there are few things better than a tasty dish the whole family can enjoy like these Chipotle Chicken Flatbreads. Perfect for al fresco entertaining when served alongside a fresh salad, they’re simple to make and allow guests to personalize with preferred toppings before popping in the oven. As a colorful and fresh dish, it’s an ideal meal for get-togethers on the patio.
Fresh, mouthwatering foods hot off the grill are always a sure sign of
summer fun. These Chicken Shawarma Sliders are a delicious example of how to grill healthy summer meals without forgoing favorite flavors. They’re part of a curated 12-recipe collection of healthy, balanced dishes from the snacking experts at family-owned Fresh Cravings, known for its chilled salsas, hummus, and other dips, which teamed up with eMeals, America’s leading provider of meal plans.
“These sliders are a fantastic - and healthy - option for your next gathering,” said Rachel West, RD, eMeals Senior Nutrition Writer and Editor. “The marinade uses a mix of pantry-friendly dried herbs and fresh garlic to give the lean grilled chicken breast some oomph. The lettuce and red onion add cool crispness and crunch to the sandwiches while Fresh Cravings’ creamy, flavor-packed hummus gets some nutritional bonus points by providing a dose of protein and fiber.”
Visit emeals.com/campaign/Fresh-Cravings-Healthy-Eats for the entire recipe collection and Culinary.net to find more simple summer recipes.
Recipe adapted from ButterYourBiscuit.com
Recipe courtesy of Rachel West, eMeals Registered Dietitian Make ahead to allow chicken time to marinate
Ingredients:
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon salt
Ingredients:
• 2 flatbreads
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• 4 chicken tenders, cooked and cubed
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle seasoning
• 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375º F. Place parchment paper on baking sheet and add flatbreads. Sprinkle cheese on flatbreads. Top with garlic, chicken, and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake 16 minutes until cheese is melted. In small bowl, mix ranch and chipotle seasoning. Drizzle ranch dressing on flatbreads and sprinkle with cilantro leaves.
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 package (12) slider buns
• 1 container (17 ounces) Fresh Cravings Honey
Jalapeno Hummus
• 1 package (8 ounces) shredded lettuce
• 1/2 small red onion, sliced
Directions:
In zip-top plastic bag, use meat mallet or heel of hand to pound chicken to even thickness. Cut into 2-inch pieces and place in large bowl. Add oil, garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, salt, and cayenne; toss. Cover chicken and chill 8 hours or up to 2 days.
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill chicken 4-5 minutes per side or until done. Serve chicken on buns with hummus, lettuce, and onion.
RIDGE YOGA is perfect for those who are curious about yoga and are searching for a comfortable, non-judgmental place to begin. With a many choices for those who are interested in yoga - whether you are just starting out or looking for a more intensive workoutthey have a class for that!
Kathy came to Blue Ridge Yoga for classes after many “drive bys” and shares her story:
“I always had a desire to learn more about yoga but was always too busy caring for my children to take any time for myself. Self-care felt selfish when I had a full-time job and a family that needed attention. As my kids got older and I had more time to myself, I was too tired and busy to pursue yoga.
“When I was 53, the company I was working for closed. My children were grown and I found myself with nothing but time. As I drove by Blue Ridge Yoga, it seemed to call to me! I stopped and got a schedule then talked a friend into going with me to a class - it was time to get outside of my excuses and my comfort zone.
“That decision has changed my life! I thought yoga was for ‘certain people,’ but I felt comfortable the moment I walked in. Everyone there is kind and welcoming. It was clear that they care about the students, each other, and the community.
“Everyone is welcomed with open arms. There are all ages and sizes, and I found my ‘tribe’ and my happy place! I feel so good in my own body now. My spirit and soul are renewed each time I am there. I want to thank BRY for loving me and for showing me that there is no age or size limit for practicing yoga.”
Conveniently located at the corner of Campbell Station Road and Grigsby Chapel behind the Walgreens, they offer Visitor and New Member class packages for those just starting out so you’ll feel comfortable wherever you are in your yoga journey.
In [ ] We Trust, an exhibition curated by Knoxville native Alex Gingrow, at UT Downtown Gallery through August 5th.
Eco Tone: Courtney Egan featuring collaborations with Natori Green at Knoxville Museum of Art through August 27th.
Jazz @ The Emporium from 7 to 8:30 pm. Every Tuesday through August 29th.
Lights! Camera! East Tennessee! at the East Tennessee History Center. 9 am to 4 pm daily with free admission on Sundays. Extended through September 3rd. Dawn of the Dinosaurs at Zoo Knoxville from 9 am to 5 pm daily through September 4th.
Story Thyme at Knoxville Botanical Garden from 10:30 to 11:30 am every Wednesday through October.
JULY 12
Kid A’Riffic Fun in the Park at Ijams Nature Center from 10 am to 1 pm. Enjoy making crafts, playing games, and more! For children ages 2-12, all activities are free!
National Children & Youth Garden Symposium at UT Gardens, Knoxville through the 15th. Enjoy 30 interactive learning sessions addressing pre-K through 12 learning. AHSGardening.org to register.
JULY 14
Knoxville Children’s Theatre Matilda, Jr. at 7 pm. Also the 15th - 16th, 20th - 23rd, and 27th - 30th. For showtimes and tickets, see KnoxvilleChildrensTheatre.com.
Footloose: The Musical presented by The WordPlayers at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 15th at 2:30 & 7:30 pm and 16th at 2:30 pm.
JULY 15
Cherokee Caverns Movie in the Cave: How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Historic Cherokee Caverns. Showtimes are 11:00, 1:15, 3:30, 5:45 & 8:00. Chairs will be provided, or bring a small camp chair and blanket. Self-guided tours of the cave available 30 minutes before and after the showing.
Grooves in the Garden Outdoor Festival at the Knoxville Botanical Garden from 5 to 10 pm.
Thomas Rhett: Home Team Tour at Thompson-Boling Arena at 7:30 pm.
1964: The Tribute at the Tennessee Theatre at 8 pm.
JULY 16
East Tennessee Bluegrass Association Monthly Jam at Ijams Nature Center from 3 to 6 pm. Free!
JULY 18
Tennessee Smokies vs. Mississippi Braves at Smokies Stadium at 7 pm. Also the 19th - 22nd at 7 pm and 23rd at 2 pm.
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 pm. Also the 19th - 20th at 7:30 pm, 21st at 8 pm, 22nd at 2 & 8 pm, and 23rd at 1:30 & 7 pm.
JULY 19
Kid A’Riffic Fun in the Park at Lakeshore Park from 10 am to 1 pm. Enjoy making crafts, playing games, and more! For children ages 2-12, all activities are free! The Rumble at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
JULY 20
Concerts on the Square: Variety Thursdays in Market Square at 7 pm. Bobcat Goldthwiat at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
JULY 21
Board Game Days in the Old City from noon to 9 pm. Also Saturday from 8 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Bgdknx.com for tickets.
Alive After Five at the Knoxville Museum of Art from 6:30 to 9 pm. Big Freedia at the Bijou Theatre at 8 pm.
JULY 22
Crash Test Dummies at the Bijou Theatre at 8 pm.
JULY 25
Bored Teachers Comedy Tour at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
ZZ Top at the Tennessee Theatre at 8 pm.
JULY 26
Kid A’Riffic Fun in the Park at World’s Fair Park from 10 am to 1 pm. Enjoy making crafts, playing games, and more! For children ages 2-12, all activities are free!
Old City Market at West Jackson Avenue from 5 to 9 pm.
Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Bijou Theatre at 7 pm.
JULY 28
KUUMBA Festival cultural heritage and musical festival celebrating African culture, featuring the African World Marketplace, in Market Square from noon to 10 pm.
JULY 29
Summer Tree Walk at Knoxville Botanical Gardens at 9 am. The Chicks World Tour at Thompson-Boling Arena at 7:30 pm.
JULY 30
Cars and Coffee at West Town Mall from 8 to 11 am. MARK YOUR CALENDAR
AUGUST 1
Tennessee Smokies vs. Chattanooga Lookouts at Smokies Stadium at 7 pm. Also the 2nd - 5th at 7 pm and 6th at 2 pm.
AUGUST 2
The African American Experiences in the Smokies: Searching at the East Tennessee History Center from 12 to 1 pm.
WDVX Tennessee Shines Live at the Bijou Theatre at 7 pm.
AUGUST 3
Blood Brothers at the Bijou Theatre at 7:30 pm.
AUGUST 5
Cherokee Caverns Movie in the Cave: Batman Returns at Historic Cherokee Caverns. Showtimes are 11:00, 1:30, 4:00, 6:30 & 9:00. Chairs will be provided, or bring a small camp chair and blanket. Self-guided tours of the cave available 30 minutes before and after the showing.
Vintage Base Ball: Phoenix of East Nashville vs Emmett Machinists of Knoxville at Historic Ramsey House at 12 pm. Free!
Eighth of August Jubilee Concert at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center at 7 pm. Concert in remembrance of Tennessee’s Day of Emancipation (August 8, 1863). Bring a lawn chair; free!
AUGUST 6
The Pink Bride wedding show and bridal expo at the Knoxville Convention Center from noon to 4 pm.
AUGUST 7
First Friday on Market Square, Gay Street, The Old City, and Downtown North beginning at 5 pm.
AUGUST 8
After Selma at the Tennessee Theatre at 4 pm.
AUGUST 10
Concerts for Our Own: Jay White and the Sweet Caroline Tour at the Tennessee Amphitheater from 6 to 10 pm. Supporting local charities through music! ConcertsforOurOwn.org.
All event dates and times subject to change.
JOIN THE fun while exploring downtown museums and shops. The publisher of the Waldo book series selects 250 locally-owned bookstores across the country each year to host the Waldo Scavenger Hunt during the month of July. As the home to Union Ave Books, Downtown Knoxville is lucky to be one of the cities regularly selected. Put on your striped shirt and black-rimmed specs (optional, of course) and come for a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt in Downtown Knoxville.
Where? In more than 3 dozen business locations in Downtown Knoxville.
How? Visit any of the participating locations during the month of July and pick up your Waldo Passport. Then just start hunting! Collect a store stamp at each Waldo sighting... and keep up the search.
Diligent seekers collecting twenty or more stamps will be entered to win a deluxe set of Waldo books. You’ll also find fun, treats, and prizes along the way. Share where you find Waldo at #foundwaldoknox.
Interested in finding some free parking? No search needed. Downtown has over 5,500 spaces free on nights and weekends. Check DowntownKnoxville.org for more details.
Footloose celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness. Suggested for a 12+ audience.
Friday, July 14, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 15, at 2:30 and 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 16, at 2:30 pm
Don’t miss this explosive movie musical live on stage!
Tickets available at KnoxBijou.org or WordPlayers.org.
Renaissance Center 12740 Kingston Pike, 37934
Saturdays 9 am - Noon
EBENEZER ROAD
Ebenezer United Methodist Church 1001 Ebenezer Road, 37923
Tuesdays 3 pm - 6 pm
MARKET SQUARE DOWNTOWN
Wednesdays from 10 am - 1 pm
Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm
NEW HARVEST PARK
4775 New Harvest Lane, 37918
Thursdays 3 pm - 6 pm
HISTORIC OAK RIDGE
Jackson Square 209 Jackson Square, 37830
Saturdays 8 am - Noon
THE PRESERVE TOWN CENTER
201 Broadberry Avenue, 37830 4th Wednesday of each month 9 am - 1 pm
RAIN OR SHINE!
THE ARTS & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from July 7-28. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop at KnoxAlliance.store.
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents the 11th annual Knoxville Photo juried exhibition featuring selected works from 42 artists throughout the region. The exhibition encompasses photographs depicting all subjects and genres, including streetscapes, cityscapes, landscapes, environmental portraiture, portraits, abstracts, and more. Heather F. Wetzel served as exhibit juror and viewed 390 images to select the exhibition.
An artist working in historic photographic processes, hand papermaking, and book arts, Heather is currently the Galleries & Collections Manager at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in the Great Smoky Mountains. She earned her Master of Arts & Humanities from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania and her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from the Visual Studies Workshop in New York, where she also worked at the George Eastman Museum. She is a 2012 Photolucida Critical Mass Finalist, as well as a semifinalist and The Print Center’s Honorary Council Award of Excellence winner in The Print Center’s 87th International Competition. Her work has been widely exhibited can be found at the Anzenberger Gallery in Vienna, Austria, Momentum Gallery in Asheville, NC, as well as in multiple collections.
Since 1963, the Knoxville Watercolor Society has been alive and thriving in the city! Dr. Kermit Ewing, head of the University of Tennessee Art Department, noted that our area lacked an organization for artists who share the common interest of painting in aqueous media. Aided by local watercolor enthusiasts, KWS was up and running. The purpose of the Knoxville Watercolor Society is to educate its members, as well as the community, to the understanding of watercolor as a significant art form. Active membership is juried by the members and consists of Knoxville area artists who are actively advancing the creation and quality of aqueous
media. Members’ works are a testament to the continued pursuit of excellence in water based media, as they can be viewed and enjoyed in exhibits, galleries, and private collections across the country.
Annually, the organization provides a scholarship, donates to the University of Tennessee Ewing Gallery, and provides grants to various art organizations. Through the years, the area’s increasing interest in watercolor painting is a result in part of the growth and development of the Knoxville Watercolor Society.
Lindsay
Lindsay Abromaitis-Smith is an artist, herbalist, writer, and pleasure activist living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Her art practice is currently focused on learning how to be a rooted elephant and painting/drawing using her feet.
Artist statement excerpt : It is my belief that these fundamental acts and interactions reveal that great but simple powers exist within us, all we need to do is express them. It is also incredibly exhilarating to squish colors between my toes and make a beautiful mess.
Katie Hawley: Follow Through on the North Wall Artist statement: I am a reactionary artist; I love lines and complementary colors. I love to create space and to deconstruct existing space. I never know how my work will start or end. My exhibition, Follow Through, doesn’t solve or ask anything; it is just here to occupy space.
Artist statement excerpt: Highly abstract, my work focuses on channeling unseen emotions. Each piece has its own aura as my passion shines with uninhibited energy and brushstrokes.
Liz Osborne’s practice involves layering acrylic paint with a variety of mediums, ranging from textiles to foliage and glitter. Shortly after ending 10 years of military service, she found her love of painting and is earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts at UTK.
The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, located at 100 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 865-523-7543 or visit KnoxAlliance.com.
JOIN THIS EPIC, limited-time adventure! Discover fun facts about the prehistoric animals, enjoy kidfriendly activities, and graze among the greats. Follow the dinosaur footprints all around the zoo and see if you can spot all 22 ancient creatures!
Dawn of the Dinosaurs, presented by Chickfil-A Knoxville, will feature lifelike dinos that move, roar, and spit now through September 4, 2023. Guests will experience 17 species of “terrible lizards” that lived during the Mesozoic era 245 to 65.5 million years ago, including the fascinating feathered Utahraptor, a towering Brachiosaurus, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a roar that rumbles! Dawn of the Dinosaurs is included as part of a general admission ticket and free for Zoo Knoxville members.
Zoo Knoxville was voted one of the top 10 zoo exhibits in the county by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the Boyd’s Family Asian Trek that features naturalistic habitats for tigers, cranes, langurs, and
gibbons. In addition to the dinosaurs and Asian Trek, be sure to visit Clover & Rusty, the rough and tumble baby goats at Kids Cove, and stop by the chimpanzees to see cute little Stevie as he plays with his elders. Zoo Knoxville is leading the charge every day to save endangered animals and their habitats around the globe. It is your support that advances their mission to deliver dynamic guest experiences while inspiring action to wildlife and wild places. When you become a member of Zoo Knoxville, you’re doing more than visiting our wildly fun Zoo and seeing the amazing animals. You’re becoming part of a community that works together to serve Zoo Knoxville’s mission of saving wild places and wild animals, both locally and globally. It’s so much more than a membership, and it makes a great gift!
There are Daily Animal Encounters, so be sure to check the ZooKnoxville.org schedule before heading over so you don’t miss out. The zoo is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Last admission is one hour before the zoo closes, so get there in plenty of time to explore all that Zoo Knoxville has to offer.
TRUTHFULLY, I LAUGHED when I read an excerpt from historical gardening expert Peggy Cornett’s book, Jefferson’s Vines of Summer: Beauties and Beasts, where she wrote, “Ask any of Monticello’s gardeners and they will tell you that enough has been said about the Hyacinth Bean.” Here I am, though, telling you more about it.
The vine’s purple stems, leaf veins, flowers, and seed pods place it firmly on my list of purple favorites in the garden.
Hyacinth bean goes by many names, including Indian bean and Egyptian bean, which provide clues about its origin. Most of the Lablab purpureus is edible when prepared correctly, and it has been utilized as a food crop for centuries in Africa and Asia. It arrived in Europe by the early 1700s and gained popularity. Ever the plantsman, Thomas Jefferson is thought to have grown it in the early 1800s at Monticello.
In the United States, this plant has been primarily used ornamentally since the early 19th century. Climbing trellises or spreading along the ground, this vine is a fast-growing annual in much of the Southeast but can be hardy in zones 10 and 11. The shape of the seed pods and flowers indicate that it is in the Fabaceae family (also known as Leguminosae) and is nitrogen-fixing. In fact, it’s a great cover crop because it provides nitrogen through fixation and leaf decay, and its extensive root system improves the soil’s structure. Farmers may like this plant, too, because it can be used as forage for cattle and goats.
Purple hyacinth bean vine can be easily grown from seed after fear of frost has passed, in full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Protect young plants from deer, and provide adequate support for the vines that can be up to 25 feet long.
Flowers are white, blue, or purple, and the seed pods can range from
white to red or even dark brown depending on the variety chosen. Seeds for purple flowering varieties are easily found in mail order catalogs and in seed displays at garden centers in early spring. Staking against a trellis or archway, similar to what has been displayed in our UT Gardens, Knoxville, Kitchen Garden, makes for a dramatic moment in any garden while also providing shade in the heat of summer.
Look for purple hyacinth bean vine growing this summer at the UT Gardens, Knoxville. There, and in your own home landscape, you’ll be mesmerized by the buzz of bees and scent of the flowers in late summer through early fall should you choose to add this purple people pleaser to your garden.
The UT Gardens includes plant collections located in Knoxville, Crossville, and Jackson, Tennessee. Designated as the official botanical garden for the State of Tennessee, the UT Gardens are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. The Gardens’ mission is to foster appreciation, education, and stewardship of plants through garden displays, educational programs, and research trials. The Gardens are open during all seasons and free to the public.
Photo courtesy of Whitney Hale Purple hyacinth bean vine trellised on bamboo stakes, shown in the foreground, is a fun and easy way to add interest in an annual planting, border, or island. Courtesy of SAPlants/WikimediaTHE FIRST HALF of the year has certainly been interesting in the landscape. Some of your plants are looking great, some are not. I finally gave in and removed a boxwood and two enormous loropetalums in my yard, but everything else seems to be recovering. Hopefully your yard is getting back to normal as well!
So, what is there to do in your yard in July? A lot! But let’s talk first about one of my passions: pollinator plants. Our focus on clearing land and establishing lawns over the past few decades has not done any favors for our environment, and there is a high cost to pay. More than 30% of the food we eat every day relies on or benefits from pollinators, including the most nutritious foods. In addition, coffee and chocolate depend on them, so without our pollinators, we would be hungry, malnourished, and cranky!
Who are our pollinators? Primarily bees, but not just the ones you know about. While honeybees and bumble bees are the best known, there are more than 4,000 bee species native to North America. The vast majority are solitary bees where the female makes her nest alone. Most are not aggressive and don’t sting. Honeybees are the primary workers, responsible for 80% of flowering plants. Bumble bees are also crucial because they pollinate both flowers and agricultural crops. Unfortunately, honeybees and bumble bees are facing extinction risk.
Bees aren’t the only pollinators, however. Butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, bats, and even flies can serve as secondary pollinators. I could write this entire article about the importance of caring for them, but I don’t have room. Instead, let’s focus on what you can do to help.
The number one thing is to plant pollinator friendly flowers. Native sun perennials are your best bet, but you also need overlapping and sequential blooms. More is better, but even a small bed can attract a host of pollinators!
The second thing for you to do is provide a nest site. Leave patches of bare earth, brush piles, and nesting blocks. Plant host plants such as butterfly weed for eggs and caterpillars, and provide a bowl of wet sand or a shallow basin with pebbles as a water source.
Lastly, protect them from chemicals. Use as few as possible, and use them wisely. Do you really need to spray a bug that has a short life cycle? Please educate yourself about good bugs and bad bugs, and always use the least toxic product first.
Now let’s go over what you should do this month.
_ Do frequent walk-arounds. Plants are stressed and therefore more vulnerable to disease and insects. If you catch problems when they are just beginning, you have a better chance of getting them under control. Keep in mind that the best treatment for most cold issues is time.
_ The cool, wet weather we have had created a good breeding ground for fungus, so watch for it during your walk-around and begin treating at the first sign. Neem is a good starting point chemical, but some plants may require something stronger.
_ You can prune the winter damage from shrubs now if you haven’t already done so. You can also cut back spent bulbs, the stalks of spring bloomers (iris, peonies, etc.), and annuals that are getting leggy. If you want to reduce the size of your spring blooming trees and shrubs, prune soon after they stop blooming so they have not set bud yet.
_ Maintain your container plants. Most will need to be deadheaded, cut back, cleaned up (don’t let the spent blooms settle down into
the container), and fertilized weekly.
_ How are your vegetables? Many are off to a slow start, and that is because the soil has not warmed up enough. Be vigilant in watching for trouble in the form of insects and disease, and treat before it gets out of hand. Splashing water is a quick way to spread disease, so always use soaker hoses or water at the base of the plant. Mulch will help. Call us if you have problems.
_ Finally, don’t panic if you haven’t planted yet. There is still time!
We are still getting regular deliveries, although the high demand for plants this season has made it harder to keep up. Stop by or give us a call if you have questions. Let us help you have a beautiful yard!
Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center
9885 Highway 11E, Lenoir City, TN 37772 865.986.7229
MeadowViewGreenhouse.com
BLOUNT MANSION witnessed the birth and growth of Knoxville, housed Tennessee governors and prominent Knoxville families, and later became slum housing on the Knoxville riverfront. It was saved by early preservationists from destruction and survives today to tell the stories of Tennessee’s birth and growth.
William Blount (1749-1800), a signer of the United States Constitution, chose to build his home in Knoxville after signing the Treaty of the Holston on the banks of the Holston River just a few hundred yards away from the Mansion’s location. Blount’s home would serve as the de facto capital of the Southwest Territory and his private home. The care in construction and the size and shape of the home reflects Blount’s position as a Territorial Governor, head of a prominent family, and an influential land speculator.
The house frame was constructed of wood, covered in wood siding, and included nails made in North Carolina and glass made in Virginia. Unlike most homes during that time, the structure was made of timber rather than rough logs or hand-hewn timbers. The home was originally constructed as a hall and parlor house with two rooms downstairs and a half story loft. Later, wings were constructed. Blount’s office stands behind the west wing of the mansion. The office is a one-story frame and clapboard structure with a brick chimney.
By 1925, the structure was in considerable disrepair, and the area around the mansion was rundown and surrounded by slums. During this time, a local real estate developer had made plans to purchase the property and demolish it to make room for a parking lot for the Andrew Johnson Hotel, which was being constructed across the street. In response, prominent Knoxville citizen Mary Boyce Temple (1856-1929) purchased the option for the property for $100 in November 1925, and in 1926, the Blount Mansion Association was chartered to restore and preserve the property. Temple served as the Association’s first president. The mansion opened to the public in 1930. In 1935, the Knoxville Garden Club assumed the maintenance of the grounds around the mansion, a partnership that still exists today.
In 1965, the mansion was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It is the only structure in Knoxville and one of only 31 Tennessee structures with that designation. Today, the structure is one of the oldest in Knoxville still standing in its original location and hosts tours, special events, field trips, and educational events.
Blount Mansion is open for tours Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from noon to 4 pm. For more information, visit BlountMansion.org.
The Knox Heritage mission is to protect Knoxville’s unique charac ter for future generations by preserving, restoring, and transforming historically significant structures and places. Established in 1974 as a nonprofit historic preservation organization, Knox Heritage is char tered by the state of Tennessee and governed by a bo
Mary Boyce Temple Check
Blount Mansion Post Card
ITMIGHT JUST be the most wonderful time of the year for all of us at Random Acts of Flowers. Can’t you just hear those wedding bells ringing? Or picture the beautiful cascading floral arrangements and colorful bridal bouquets? We can, and we are thrilled. The summer months bring such a variety of gorgeous flowers for us to work with, especially those that come from the many weddings that happen this time of year.
Random Acts of Flowers relies upon in-kind donations of flowers to sustain our mission. All of the flowers we receive would be otherwise discarded after an event or if left unsold at a grocery store or wholesale floral supply store. These flowers have a much longer life to live, and the joy that they bring can so easily be extended.
The moments and milestones we celebrate in our life are filled with so much love and happiness, and in those times of celebration, we so often surround ourselves with beautiful things like flowers to mark those occasions. Donating your wedding or event flowers after the ceremony or party is over is a wonderful way to continue that celebration of love and happiness and share that with someone in our community who is really struggling. What begins as your joy can so beautifully become someone else’s hope.
Random Acts of Flowers’ volunteers and staff coordinate with many florists, event centers, and wedding venues to pick up flowers after the events have concluded at no cost. For more information on how to donate your wedding flowers or floral arrangements from an event or memorial, please contact us at operations@randomactsofflowers.org or call us at 865-633-9082.
Photo by Mirtography
WHAT A DIFFERENCE just a couple of years makes! Knoxville has had significant growth in just a short time. In order to reach more communities while providing the best exposure for our advertisers, Everything Knoxville is expanding our distribution to nearly 40,000 homes across Knox County and beyond.
A quick search of statistics available through the Knoxville Association of Realtors, UT State Data Center, and local news sites provide a quick Tennessee snapshot:
• In 2022, Tennessee experienced its largest year-over-year population increase and surpassed 7 million residents.
• Knox County’s population grew by roughly 46,000 people from 2010-2020 and an increase of 8,000 from July 2021 to July 2022.
• First-time homebuyers represent 24% of home sales, up from 13% just three years ago.
• All-cash sales represented 28% of all home sales in the first quarter of 2023.
• Knox County residential building permits totaled 4,191 in 2022 - the second highest number in 20 years!
For those receiving Everything Knoxville for the first time, we are celebrating our 17th year of sharing the small business stories of Knoxville. Our aim is to help connect our readers with local businesses, offer a resource for goods and services, highlight cultural events and our nonprofit community, and promote fun things to do in our friendly and quickly growing town. We hope our publication will help you become more familiar with the area, local events, and gain insight into our many fine local business services.
For those of us who are established Knoxville residents, let’s be welcoming and support new folks in getting acclimated to the community. We all (at least most of us) were new in town at some point, and for those relocating or moving a family, it can be an exhausting and stressful time, so be sure to offer a warm “hello!” Assisting new neighbors with home services, auto repair, and medical service recommendations can be a huge help that may make their transition easier. Let’s extend a sincere measure of East Tennessean southern hospitality! Have a great summer!
“Everything Knoxville was instrumental in helping us to reach the patients who needed us the most.” Having participated in several local publications, we found Everything Knoxville to be the most effective at helping people discover who we are and how we can help them.
As a trusted local resource, we reach more homes, more often to maximize results for our advertisers.
Knoxville’s most widely distributed magazine, direct mailed to 38,000+ high-income households from downtown Knoxville to Bearden, West Knoxville, Farragut, Hardin Valley, and beyond
Graphic design and copywriting to help our clients communicate their best message.
Flexible participation, no contracts, and complimentary article space to help share your story.
New for 2023, Everything Knoxville is now reaching new homeowners throughout Knox County – increasing awareness and potential customers for our advertisers and helping new residents learn what’s going on around town, where to go, and who to call!
ASK ABOUT OUR NEW ADVERTISER “TEST-DRIVE” PACKAGES
Flexible participation at a savings to meet your business needs and budget.
Affordable
For more than 20 years, the experts at CertaPro Painters of East Tennessee have provided professional commercial and residential painting along with home maintenance services to thousands of satisfied customers. CertaPro will always treat your home or business with the care it deserves.
Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining -
Commercial Properties and Residential
Kitchen Cabinet Painting
Interior Trim and Crown Molding
Drywall Repair
Carpentry Repair
Deck Construction
Re-Screen Porches
Wallpaper Removal
Re-texturing Drywall and Ceilings
Stripping/Refinishing Wood
470-0001 CertaPro.com/East-Tennessee
$100