The Loafer 116

First Day of Spring: Tuesday, March 19th

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Kathie

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Wendy

Ann

Johnson City Jazz Festival Announces Line-Up for 6th Annual Festival March 21-23

Johnson City Jazz Festival Announces Line-Up for 6th Annual Festival March 21-23

Organizers of the Johnson City Jazz Festival today announced the line-up for the 6th annual popular Festival that will take place March 21, 22 and 23, 8 to 10pm each night, at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, TN. Bill Perkins, local jazz guitarist and the person responsible for booking the musicians, noted this will be another great year of both local and regional Jazz talent.

As in previous years, local jazz talent will perform at no charge (tips are encouraged) on Thursday night.

Performers include The ETSU Jazz Ensemble, The Peterson Perkins Quartet, The TriCities Jazz Orchestra and the Johnson City Jazz Collective. Because Thursday night is free, Festival goers are encouraged to show up early as the venues will fill up.

Friday and Saturday tickets are $25 for one night, $40 for both. There will be 2 bands each night. Friday night performers will be the Denin Slage-Koch Trio and

The Gregory Tardy Quartet. Saturday night performers will be The Dan Keller Trio and The Iliana Rose Quartet.

Organizers appreciate all the support they have received from the community including sponsors First Horizon Bank, Carnegie Hotel, Livewire Radio, Bank of Tennessee, Alberts Pawn, Time & Pay, Christian Schmid Design, Interstate Graphics as well as other Friends of the Festival as they work to bring great live Jazz to our area.

For more details about the festival and to buy tickets, visit http://www. johnsoncityjazzfestival. com. Or follow the festival on Facebook (Johnson City Jazz Festival) and Instagram. (johnsoncityjazzfestival).

Anyone looking for more information on how to support the festival or other details can contact Steve Scheu at: 423-677-9042 or email to info@johnsoncity jazzfestival.com.

Bristol TN/Va

WEDNESDAY Mar 20th

Its Spring! Beach Party with Mark Larkins 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

FRIDAY Mar 22nd

Scotty Melton 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

From the Edge 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Noah Spencer 8:00pm at The Corner

Kayla McKinney 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

SATURDAY Mar 23rd

Anthony Childress 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Crosby Tyler 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Ryan Lowe 8:00pm at The Corner

If Birds Could Fly 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

MONDAY Mar 11th

Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Johnson City

TUESDAY Mar 19th

Old Time Jam 5:00pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Company

Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

WEDNESDAY Mar 20th

Rheva & Keegan’s

Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

THURSDAY Mar 21st

Justin Mychaels 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza

FRIDAY Mar 22nd

Modus 8:00pm at Tulip’s Pub and Grub

Dan Harrell and the Troubadours 10:00pm at Capone’s

SATURDAY Mar 23rd

Failure 2 Conform | Systematic Devastation | Wiseblood 10:00pm at Capone’s

SUNDAY Mar 24th

Mick Kyte 3:00pm at the Johnson City VFW Post 2108!

Rheva & Keegan’s

Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

Curses | Ham Radio | Strange Gods 8:00pm at Capones

Kingsport

THURSDAY Mar 21st

Sam Collie 7:00pm at Model City Tap House

FRIDAY Mar 22nd

Alpine Motel 7:00pm at Model City Tap House

Alpine Motel 8:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Seth McKay & The Moonshine

Rivals 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SATURDAY Mar 23rd

Donnie and the Dry Heavers

7:00pm at Gypsy Circus

Cider Company

Eric Pavone 8:00pm at Model City Tap House

Dan Herrell & The Troubadours

9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

Trevor Meade 9:00pm at Krazy Chicken

Elizabethton

FRIDAY Mar 22nd

Jonathan King

6:00pm at Jiggy Rays

SATURDAY Feb 23rd

Natosha Tolley

6:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s

The Legacy of Campbell’s Morrell Music

Don Campbell opened Campbell’s Morrell Music in 1985 with the help of Joe Morrell who owned the music store in Bristol. In 1987 his son David lost his job due to a merger and that just happened to be the time that his Dad Don really needed help in his growing store. It seemed like the most natural time for David to join his dad in the business. 1992 sickness forced

Don into retirement and sadly he passed in 1994 leaving David to handle the family business. 39 years in this iconic music store has not always been easy. The first time David and his staff had to deal with a very unexpected flood in downtown Johnson City brought some real challenges but It was also a learning tool to manage the next 3 floods before the city built some much appreciated retention areas. I did learn that Covid was actually good for the music business since most people were staying at home. Apparently a large number of folks enjoyed buying and learning to play musical instruments while stranded indoors.

I feel sure that Don Campbell would be very proud of the store today. As soon as you walk in to this world of music David and his staff treat you like family and do all they can to satisfy

your musical needs! David isn’t sure if his son Jonny will follow in his footstep in the store. As of now he is a professional soccer player in Indonesia. I feel sure that he will make sure the legacy of this Campbell family lives on in Downtown Johnson City. The Loafer is pleased to recognize Campbell’s Morrell Music as a Loafer Star of Excellence!

Theatre Bristol Presents “The Rainbow Fish” April 20-28

Live on the ARTspace stage, a full-scale, glitteryscaled version of beloved children’s bookannouncing cast and tickets on sale!

Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, March 2024–Theatre Bristol presents beloved children’s book The Rainbow Fish, live on its ARTspace stage, 506 State Street, Bristol, TN, with Saturday morning and afternoon shows and Sunday matinees, April 20 through 28.

This full-scale, glittery-scaled stage version of the award-winning children’s book, “The Rainbow Fish,” will transform the ARTspace into a sea world, with Rainbow Fish, Little Fish, Starfish, Ms. Minnow, Octopus, Pufferfish, Hermit Crab, Sardine, Clownfish, and many other creatures and show how kindness really shimmers, shines, and sparkles.

Elisabeth Mullins is cast as the Rainbow Fish, and her scales are Harper Mensch and Amalia Hubbard.

Carrie Cornett is the Starfish and Ms. Minnow, and Mandy Deere is the Barnacle and the wise Octopus.

Narrators and Tentacles play multiple roles with Reese Davis as Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Jayonna Green as the Hermit Crab, Nora Day Graham as the Prawn, Katie Collea as the Snail, Kayleigh Stroupe as the Haddock, and Abby Cheek as the Hake.

Bentley Forinash is the Little Fish, Autumn Love is the Sardine, Kiera Leonard is the Guppy, Lily Frazier is the Shrimp, and Summer Fritz is the Snail. The fancy fish are Lucy Helvey, the Pufferfish, Sydney Gray, the Clownfish, and Emma Cornett, the Angelfish.

The Lobsters are Farris Lamie and Kaidence DeHart, Nautilus is Lola Dew, Herring is Kally Nelson, and the little Hermit Crab is Drew Headen.

Adapted by Austin Zumbro from the book written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister and translated into English by J. Alison James, The Rainbow Fish will be directed by Melanie Yodkins. Melanie is a long-time director, Theatre Bristol stage veteran, and Fine Art & Theatre graduate of Milligan University. Among her directing credits are 13: the Broadway Musical, A Christmas Carol, The Secret Garden, and Lend Me a Tenor. Melanie is supported by stage manager Ann Vance, and production team Zaiah Gray, Cooper Knapp, Mason White, Rebecca Ryan, Ken Cornett, Tony DeVault, and Samantha Gray.

The Rainbow Fish opens Saturday, April 20, and runs for two weekends at the Theatre Bristol ARTspace, Saturdays at 10:30 am and 5:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:30 pm, closing on April 28. Tickets are $15 for adults plus processing fees and $10 for seniors and students plus processing fees, and are available at www.TheatreBristol.org

The production is made possible by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado.

Theatre Bristol is pleased to present The Rainbow Fish as part of its family-friendly 59th season of ARTspace and The Paramount Center for the Arts shows, including Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve, Aesop’s Foibles with River’s Way, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Mockingbird Sings, Scrooge! The Musical, PLAYtime in the ARTspace weekly, and The StART of Adventure Summer Camp.

Founded in 1965 by Cathy DeCaterina, Theatre Bristol is a community theatre serving all ages that also has the distinction as the oldest continually running children’s theatre in northeast Tennessee. Located on historic State Street in Bristol, it also serves southwest Virginia. Its Main Stage season consists of drama, comedy, and musical

productions that take place in the 100-seat blackbox ARTspace and at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Theatre Bristol is a volunteer-operated community organization and we invite you to get involved.

For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.

TRI-CITIES NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm

Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm

THURSDAY

Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN

Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN

FRIDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA BINGO DJ NIGHT

TUESDAY

Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN

DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm

Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm

Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm

WEDNESDAY

Trivia at Tipsy Toad

Jonesborough, TN 7pm

Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom

Bristol, VA 7pm

Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm

THURSDAY

Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom

Johnson City, TN- 7pm

Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 7pm

TUESDAY

Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY

Bingo at Tipton Street Pub Johnson City, TN 9pm

Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina Boones Creek, TN 8pm

Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

THURSDAY

Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm

Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM

THURSDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

FRIDAY

Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY

Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

SUNDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

SODOKU CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Seattle neighborhood

DROP QUOTE

5. Verb for Tweety

9. Sitcom import, briefly

14. Part of Can.

15. Above, to Albrecht

16. Russian mountains

17. Like nicotine

19. Owner of Donner and Blitzen

20. Alpine warble

21. Actor's first role

23. "I knew that!"

25. iPod accessories

30. 1959 movie with Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe

33. Soda container

35. College teacher, for short

36. Far from oblivious

37. In ____ (muddled)

39. Overshadow, big-time

42. River near York

43. Variety of guitar

45. Bird symbolizing happiness

47. Scottish boy

48. "Awakenings" actor

52. Le Champs ___

53. Bay area airport (abbr.)

54. Cornishmen

57. Skill

61. ___ Triomphe

65. Joseph's home, in the Bible

67. Fever or cruiser preceder

68. Hitler follower

69. Scope starter

70. Club gig

71. Zeppelin's "____ Mak'er"

72. Relaxing retreats

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.

Down

1. Fix, in a way

2. Catholic mass calendar

3. "The Days and Nights of Molly ___"

4. City in northern Spain

5. Palindromic king

6. Put in ____ (raise a paddle)

7. Bob Seger's "____ Got Tonight"

8. His questions are answers

9. Waldheim was its president

10. Neighbor of Arg. and Col.

11. Word with mail or club

12. Flight concern (abbr.)

13. Youth org. since 1910

18. Mass

22. Dubai is part of it (abbr.)

24. Some dogs do it

26. Riboflavin, familiarly

27. Movers' rentals

28. Anatomical backs

29. Spirited horse

30. Condescendingly exclusive

31. In a funk

32. Patsy Cline tune "____ to Pieces"

33. Personnel group

34. "Don't play me for ___!"

38. Spanish cubist Juan

40. "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo ___" (Irish lullaby)

41. Days mentioned in TGIF

44. Smallest stamp value, currently

46. "The Metamorphosis" author Franz

49. Miniature

50. Alcatraz, for one

51. Lunar periods, roughly

55. Buffet meal carrier

56. Label info

58. Skip and jump start?

59. Michael of "Arrested Development" and "Superbad"

60. Villainous group in "Get Smart"

61. Creator of Holmes and Watson (inits.)

62. Koothrappali of "The Big Bang Theory"

63. "NCIS" network

64. Fall flat

66. Russian space station

ZAOWQYXQP

WEEK PETS

sassy

Meet Sassy, a 1 yr old Manx that’s a little shy at first, but give her some time and you’ll find a bundle of love in this petite Tabby package. She has been spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped and

ready to bring joy to your home. If you’re patient and ready for a lifelong feline friend, I’m here, waiting to grace your world with gentle purrs and a whole lot of tabby charm.

Milo is a 4 yr old Treeing Walker Coonhound that’s a super sweet friendly guy with high energy! 91 lbs, good with other dogs, loves to go on walks, housetrained, neutered, current on vaccinations, microchipped and heartworm tested negative. He needs a family that can keep up with his active

lifestyle. If he gets the attention he needs, he is the most lovable boy. Might have some separation anxiety. He will need at least a 6 foot fence and could possibly dig if left unattended. Was destructive and an escape risk at his last home, but was not given enough attention.

If you are interested in adopting :

The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Shelter 423-239-5237 • 2061 Highway 75 Blountville, TN

bridgehome.org Facebook:

There are 5 Spring Bunnies hidden in this issue of The Loafer. Can you find them all?

Last Week's Puzzle Answers

Sudoku Crossword

Cryptogram:

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another, but above all try something."

Dropquote:

"If this is philosophy it is at any rate a philosophy that is not in its right mind."

Bristol Health Food Store: For Your Mind and Body

Behind Tennessee High School, you will find a small corner store known as Bristol Health Food Store. The little corner store has been selling supplements and ol’ timey remedies since the early 70’s. They offer a wide range of nutritional supplements and herbs. They carry major brands like Terry Naturally, NOW, and Garden of Life, but they also take pride in supporting local, hard-working families and their farms, such as Ellis Farms local honey, Bate’s Goat’s Milk lotion and

soap from Jonesville, Virginia, as well as award winning Energy Vitamins through Life Fortune located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Bristol Health Food Store offers a variety of support products for digestion, blood sugar support, sleep, pain relief, immune balance, and much more. They also offer one of the largest selections of high quality CBD brands.

The business was started by Becky Bowman Hopson, who is a longtime resident of East Tennessee. She earned

a degree from ETSU in English and Sociology and has extensive experience in finance, which provided her with a solid foundation to take on the store when it was offered to her. Becky and her husband purchased the store in 2015 from the previous owners, after Becky prayed for direction in her career. The opportunity fell in her lap, and she knew she had to take the leap of faith. She set out to learn a new language of natural wellness, listening, researching, and asking questions. She has a passion to help people and a willingness to learn, and so she began her own personal journey to a better lifestyle.

Bristol Health Food Store strives to provide support and assistance to guide others and lead everyone to become a better version of themselves. They are small enough to appreciate your business and big enough to fit your needs. Shopping at Bristol Health supports local business and provides you with quality products right in the Bristol neighborhood. They take a holistic approach to health and wellness, offering the means to make your mind and body equally healthy.

Stop in today at Bristol Health Food Store

located at 1600 Edgemont Avenue in Bristol, TN. You can reach them at 423-968-1241, visit their Facebook page, or their website at www.bristolhealthstore.com. They service all of your health needs!

The Loafer is pleased to recognize The Bristol Health Food Store as a Loafer Star of Excellence!

JOHNSON CITY

SATURDAYS

ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149

THURSDAY MAR 21ST

IBN Biz Lunch 11:30am at Golden Corral Buffett

Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club

12:45pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Co.

FRIDAY MAR 22ND

Johnson City Love & Hiking

Date For Couples (Self-Guided)

7:00am at Willow Springs Park

SATURDAY MAR 23RD

Johnson City Love & Hiking

Date For Couples (Self-Guided)

7:00am at Willow Springs Park

2nd Annual Johnson City Beautification Day

9:00am at King Commons Park

Folk Art Bunny Kids Canvas

10:00am at Into the Fire

Improv Open Mic

8:00pm at Wallace Theatre

SUNDAY MAR 24TH

Egg-travaganza 2:00pm at Johnson City Brewing Boones Creek

BRISTOL

WEDNESDAY MAR 20TH

Open Mic 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO

THURSDAY MAR 21ST

“Easter Kitty” Canvas Class

6:00 PM at Kil'n Time

Contemporary Ceramics

FRIDAY MAR 22ND

“Easter Bunny” Canvas

Class 6:00 PM at Kil'n Time

Contemporary Ceramics

Jeremy Alder 7:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

SATURDAY MAR 23RD

Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library

Jeremy Alder 7:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

SUNDAY MAR 24TH

Parenting Prime Time –Make Parenting Sweet

8:00am at Parenting Sweet

KINGSPORT

SATURDAY MAR 23RD

Nature: Wolf Howling

10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Blue Ridge Artisan Days- A Crafter’s Spring Fling

9:00am at Kingsport Civic Auditorium

Beautiful Miss Tennessee

12:00pm at Kingsport

Renaissance Center

JONESBOROUGH

TUESDAYS

Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The Intl. Storytelling Center

SATURDAY MAR 23RD

Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site

ABINGDON, VA

WEDNESDAY MAR 20TH

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

FRIDAY DEC MAR 22ND

Movies for Adults 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library

SUNDAY MAR 24TH

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

GRAY

THU MAR 21ST - SUN MAR 23RD

Duck Duck Goose Spring/ Summer Children's Consignment Sale 2024 10:00am at Appalachian Fairgrounds

The Carter Family Fold Set for The McLain Family Band

During this 50th anniversary year, the halls of the legendary Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia will ring with extraordinary music and excitement as harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens joins The McLain Family Band, Saturday, April 13th, 2024 at 7:30 pm!

The McLain Family Band, set to be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in October, has had immeasurable influence on the bluegrass music world. They have literally spread this musical style around the globe and performed on stages from Carnegie Hall in New York to Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, for hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom might never have heard bluegrass music otherwise.

On the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, Roy Acuff told Mike Stevens, “I’ve never heard anyone play the harmonica like you play the harmonica.” In Mike’s hands the

harmonica can become a genre bending no rules allowed musical paintbrush, or a powerful straightforward country instrument worthy to be played with the likes of Jim & Jesse, The Lewis Family, and The McLain Family Band. Mike Stevens is a distinguished Canadian musician, songwriter, composer, author, and humanitarian.

Founded in 1974, by Janette Carter, The Carter Family Fold is part of the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of old-time, traditional country and mountain music. A Saturday at the Carter Family Fold in rural southwest Virginia is an evening of musical entertainment and country hospitality you won’t soon forget.

TUES. Mar. 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th BRIM & MARCI LEAL

WED. Mar. 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th

THUR. Feb.

Local Events:

1. 2nd Annual St, Patty’s Day Party 1pm March 16th at True Sons Club House

2. Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction March 24th 4pm-6pm Guardian Riders Club House Blountville, TN

3. Rod Runs April 18th – 20th Pigeon Forge

4. 1st Annual Stoners Ball April 19th – 20th Maggie Valley NC

5. WJ’s Spring Bike Show April 20th 11am BIKE NIGHTS START IN APRIL

Bike Nights:

Wednesday: 19E Pit Stop

Wednesday: Jonesborough VFW

Thursday: Darrell Waltrip

Friday: Tulips

Rides:

1. Lids for Kids March 30th Registration 10am KSU 2pm Wrecking Crew

2. Isaiah 117 House Benefit April 13th 11am Wrecking Crew

3. Triple T Poker Run meet Peacemakers 10:30am at Jonesborough VFW KSU Noon

4. Spring Kickoff Ride for the Senior Citizen Center Registration 9:30am KSU 10:30am start at Wrecking Crew

Harley Davidson Hosted by Appalachian Warriors

Bike Rallies:

1. Daytona Bike Week March 1st – 10th Daytona Beach

2. Route 66 Spring Fever Bike Rally March 28th – 31st. Depew, OK

3. Arizona Bike Week Scottsdale, AZ April 3rd – 7th

4. Tallahassee Bike Fest April 11th – 14th Tallahassee, FLA

Beanz Biker Corner Beanz Biker Corner

Hello everyone, well its March 2024 still some cold weather ahead but spring is just around the corner.

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 10th, St Patrick’s Day is March 17th and the first day of Spring is March 19th. We are getting close to those warm sunny days so hang in there. This week I thought it be nice to write about one of our local Motorcycle Clubs (The True Sons MC). Let me first say when I arrived at the True Son Clubhouse, I was welcome with open arms. I instantly felt like family. They had salad, lasagna, brownies, peach cobbler ready to eat. What a wonderful way to welcome someone.

(A man named Rothie) The founder father of the True Sons retired Army Special Forces, 1974 Combat Vet, with a wife and two sons. When Rothie came home from the army he missed the feeling of the camaraderie he had when he was in the army. The mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. Rothie and his wife both loved riding a motorcycle. After a couple of years Rothie had found a group of folks who like to ride and likeminded. So, he started the True Sons Motorcycle Club. When he first started the club there were 12 members and of course have grown since then. Rules were and still are very simple. Family first then club, must be past your 21st birthday, must have a job, and either have a

By Anne Hartley

Harley Davidson or Indian Motorcycle. They want quality over quantity when it comes to the members of the club. They do not go looking for new members, they prefer folks come to them and hang around for at least a year to see if it’s a fit for the club and the individual wanting to join. After 15 years of being an active member in the club they can apply for retirement and become a lifetime member at the approval of the leadership of the club. Rothie is now 77 years young. While talking with him I could see in his eyes that he is a man of honor. I knew I was right about how much honor I saw in eyes and heard in his words when he told the wifies or girlfriends of the club members wear patches saying True Son Ladies. I love that. I asked Rothie why he named the club True Sons. He told me it was because of a book he read called True Son, a true story about an Indian tribe who had killed a white man & his wife but could not kill their infant child, so the chief took the infant boy back to his tribe where he raised the boy as his own and called him his True Son. The chief sent the boy back to the white man where he learned to speak English and went to school in England. The story in this book touched his heart. Their center piece is an Indian Chief and the feathers on the member’s vest stands for the years in the club. The True Sons MC not only helps its members, but they love helping the kids in the community, veterans, and those in need. They help raise money for a variety of charities and the support their community and other clubs. They want the world to know that motorcycles clubs are not about drugs and alcohol. It’s about a group of individuals who become family, people who are like minded, who like the camaraderie, like to help others, and please have a love of riding motorcycles.

It was a great honor for me to meet and hang out with the members of the True Sons and their ladies, to eat dinner with them. To be invited into a meeting with their members and meet face to face with their founder father and president of the club. So, folks when you are traveling and see motorcycles thundering down the road know they too have families and are not some gang looking for trouble. It’s a pack of family members out for a ride or maybe out paying to ride to help raise money for someone in need. MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT TO MY BIKER FAMILY

Useless Facts About Animals:

1. Turtles, water snakes, crocodiles, alligators, dolphins, whales, and other water-going creatures will drown if kept underwater too long.

2. Almost half the pigs in the world are kept by farmers in China.

3. On average, dogs have better eyesight than humans, although not as colorful.

4. Deer have no gall bladders.

5. The ostrich can run up to 40 mph. Ostriches can run faster than horses, and the males can roar like lions.

6. The hummingbird can flap its wings up to 80 times per second.

7. The cheetah can reach speeds of up to 70 mph.

8. Gorillas can catch human colds and other illnesses.

9. A lion in the wild usually makes no more than twenty kills a year. The female lion does ninety percent of the hunting.

10. The only mammals to undergo menopause are elephants, humpback whales and human females.

Constant Connections

Social Sentiments

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

In a world where you are constantly able to connect with anyone all over the world at any time of the day, how are you using your internet time?

Engage with the pages that bring you joy. Engaging those pages will tell the algorithm that you want to see more posts from them. The social media algorithms are designed to show you more of what you interact with, so by engaging them, you bring more joy to your feed and show the people behind the

pages how much you enjoy them.

Thoroughly research topics that interest you. In a world where we have information from reliable sources in the palm of our hands anytime of day, trustworthy information is vital to understanding the world around you and the things that make you happy. How you spend your time on the internet determines how you will see the world. Spend it on pages that bring you joy and inform your decisions.

Healthy Boundaries for the Self and Beyond

by Kathie Scalf

Love can be such a complicated matter. Much like adding ingredients to bake a perfect souffle, there is a very fine line between too much and not enough, and swaying too far in either direction can be detrimental. As it turns out, the key to both self-love success and external relationships is the same factor: setting firm boundaries. We’ve never lived in a more body positive culture, and while that’s a seemingly good idea in theory, one look around the US reflects that we are in fact loving ourselves to death. According to a recent study from Harvard University, “roughly 2 out of 3 US adults are overweight or obese (69%) with 1 out of 3 considered obese (36%).” In a disturbingly similar trend, the same report states “the country has some of the highest childhood obesity rates in the world: 1 out of 6 children is obese and 1 out of 3 is overweight.” It’s no surprise that the leading cause of death in the US is heart disease, which is directly correlated to unhealthy lifestyles.

Obesity is a completely selfimposed disease and one that is easily reversed through simple lifestyle change. Why then are we being encouraged to “accept ourselves at any size,” knowing that its killing us and our children? Why does someone who acknowledges unhealthy bodies get labeled a “fat shamer” by the media? If obesity truly is

a disease, why don’t we treat it as such and actually encourage TREATING it, instead of just accepting it as fate?

While I by no means advocate hating yourself for being in an unhealthy position, I think its necessary to be realistic about your situation and hold yourself accountable. There is no circumstance that is permanent, and you have the power to change anything at any time, for the better or the worse. Waking up every day and making healthy diet and exercise choices is true self-care, not ordering a pizza and zoning out to 12 hours of Netflix like the media would lead you to believe, but it’s completely up to you to decide how you want to spend another day.

I think we should treat the relationship with ourselves the same way we (hopefully) treat our relationships with others; by setting firm boundaries built out of love and encouragement for the higher good. If you genuinely love someone, you want to see them healthy and happy; and if a loved one has a disease, you encourage them to treat it, not accept it as a death sentence. If your partner or child was an addict, you certainly couldn’t imagine give them positive affirmations regarding their abuse, or enable them by purchasing the thing that is killing them. However, some people sadly have fallen into this cycle of “loving them to death,” and will be manipulated into assisting their self-destruction out of fear. Boundaries are a wonderful thing; they protect us from harm.

Drawing a firm, uncrossable line in the sand for both yourself and others creates accountability and structure. If you have no boundaries you have no control, either over yourself or others’ treatment toward you. Creating standards for our lives is the greatest gift of self-preservation and is so necessary, most important of which is learning the power of NO. Saying no when someone asks you to over-extend yourself for their benefit, saying no to participating in harmful behaviors, saying no to unhealthy cravings; every time you say no you’re actually giving yourself a yes.

Conversely, you do have to allow grace and patience. No matter your current life situation, you didn’t get there overnight and the process of reversing those behaviors isn’t going to be immediate. Don’t overlook or undervalue your personal wins, especially the small ones; those are the ones that add up and amount to everything. Every time you choose water over soda, get active instead of staying on the couch, or skip dessert, congratulate yourself. More importantly, know that no one is perfect and mistakes will be made; success comes from picking yourself back up quickly when you falter. Give grace to others, knowing they too will make mistakes. As long as their intentions are pure, they deserve just as many second chances as you give yourself.

I’m a person who tends to swing in the adverse direction on this matter; my self-talk and

acceptance of where I am in the present moment has historically always been negative. My struggle with perfectionism is admittedly my biggest flaw when it comes to myself and my relationships with others. It’s something I’m continuing to work on, and I feel as though it’s getting better. Holding myself accountable to lifestyle choices I’m proud of is helping my self-perception and trying to accept others where they’re at - knowing we’re all fluid and meeting at different points on this journey – is increasing my tolerance for perceived ‘weakness’ in others. It’s a struggle, but daily I remind myself that I’m receiving back what I’m putting out, so positivity is always the better option.

XO - Kathie

Musical Storytellers Take the Jettie Baker Center Stage

Through vivid storytelling, blazing instrumentals, heartfelt songs, and a whirlwind of instrument switching, masterful musicians Bryan McDowell and Josh Goforth bring the spirit and energy of the music of western North Carolina to the Jettie Baker Center stage in Clintwood on Sunday, March 24th at 2 p.m. in conjunction with Pro-Art’s 47th season. McDowell and Goforth grew up in the greater Asheville area immersed in the rich musical traditions of the region. Their show will have you tapping your toes and singing along on a musical journey through the southern Appalachian Mountains. Tickets are $10 at the door. Children and students get in free! Find more information and make reservations at proartva.org.

Bryan McDowell is a person predictable only in his consistent excellence. Fiddler, vocalist, and seducer of stringed instruments, his reputation is solidifying as a musician of great interest on the Nashville scene. With his move to the area in 2013, Bryan grounded his career in a 4-year tenure with Claire Lynch. He has logged considerable time on the road with bluegrass notables Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Ron Block, & Molly Tuttle, and shared the stage and studio with an ever-expanding list of legendary names from the realm of roots and acoustic music. He has contributed his inventive style to recordings garnering IBMA awards and Grammy nominations. Prior accolades include his triple

win—a sweep of the fiddle, mandolin, and guitar categories—at the 2009 National Flatpicking Championship and 21 other instrument contest titles from 2009 and 2010.

Josh Goforth must have been born musical—he was already playing piano in church at the age of four—but it was an experience he had in the sixth grade that lit the fuse of his precocious musical career. A performance at Goforth’s middle school by Sheila Kay Adams caused him to start thinking about the musical heritage and stories of his native Madison County, North Carolina. Goforth is a highly accomplished storyteller and oldtime, bluegrass, and swing musician playing close to 20 instruments. His fiddling was featured in the movie “Songcatcher,”

both onscreen and on the soundtrack. He has performed in all 50 states, throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia and graced such stages as the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Grand Ole Opry. He was nominated for a Grammy for his 2009 release with David Holt, “Cutting Loose.”

Pro-Art’s spring season is underway! Explore the complete schedule of events, purchase season tickets, and make reservations at proartva.org

Season tickets are valid for all performances of the 47th season and can be purchased online, in person at any show, or by calling (276) 376-4520. Dickenson County residents are eligible for free season tickets thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Columbus Phipps Foundation. Please request tickets in advance of the performance by emailing pro-art@uvawise.edu or calling (276) 376-4520.

Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals with accessibility needs or general questions are encouraged to call (276) 376-4520 or email pro-art@uvawise.edu. For evolving conditions related to weather cancellations, or similar unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for up-to-date information.

Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Mountain Empire Community College, the Columbus Phipps Foundation, and the Lee County Community Foundation.

The current film "Argylle" is an all-star action-comedyspy film featuring Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway, a successful spy novelist who finds herself in danger and intrigue. At the beginning of the film Conway is writing her fifth novel about the spy adventures of the fictional James Bond style character Aubrey Argylle( Henry Cavill), until she experiences a writer's block, leading her to travel to her parents home by train. While she is on the train to her parents home, accompanied by her pet cat Alfie, she is saved by a real spy named Aidan Wylde (Sam Rockwell) who tells her an evil organization called the Division is out to get her because her novels seem to predict the organization's future. After the attack and a thrilling escape, the duo travel to England in the hopes that the next chapter of her unfinished novel will reveal how to stop the Division.

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint

ARGYLLE

While in London searching for a "Masterkey" that would help expose the Division Elly referenced in her novels, she Wh suspicious Aidan is out to kill her as well. In a panic, Elly calls her parents for help, and after they arrive matters take an unexpected turn. I will not reveal what happens when the parents arrive, other than to say the duo are once again on the run, eventually arriving in France. While in France, Elly has more shocking surprises awaiting her, and once again the two are attacked and make another harrowing escape. While she is fleeing danger, her invented character Argylle keeps appearing to her via her imagination, giving her tips and advising her along the way. Elly also discovers her real name is Rachel, and her real occupation is revealed to her by former CIA deputy director Alfie Solomon (Samuel L.Jackson). After she shockingly discovers her real name and occupation, the duo are once again on the road, this time to Arabia, where they retrieve the Masterkey, but have a direct showdown with the Division on their oil tanker headquarters. At the end of the film, Elly/Rachel is speaking at a book signing for her latest Argylle novel, and has a surprise in the audience, leaving her a bit stunned. The film does have a mid-credits scene tying the film to "The Kingsman"

film series. The all-star cast does a wonderful job, and other actors featured in the film include Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, John Cena and Dua Lipa. Howard is right on target as the confused novelist, displaying great comedic touches in her performance. Cavill appears to be auditioning for the role of James Bond in the film, and his interesting haircut nearly steals the film, along with the cat portraying Alfie. This fast-paced film requires your full attention, so if you

plan on seeing the film in a theater, plan accordingly. The screenplay's clever plot twists provide for an enjoyable film, and the aforementioned Rockwell appears to be having a blast in his role. "Argylle" is a great choice for those looking for a action-comedy-spy film to take a break from the real world. (Rated PG-13)

Bristol

CONCERT SCHEDULE CONCERT SCHEDULE

GREENVILLE

BRISTOL TN/VA GREENEVILLE TN

PARAMOUNT

Mar 29 Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood

Apr 10 John Oats

Apr 25 Glenn Miller Orchestra

Jun 1 Mac McAnally (sold out)

Jun 20 Steve Earle

Aug 17 Ozark Mountain Daredevils

COUNTRY THUNDER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jun 28-29 Cody Johnson, Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman, Lonestar, Trace Adkins, Priscilla Block, Shenandoah, Travis Denning, Jake Worthington, Josh Ross, Emily Ann Roberts.

IN THE PINES

Jun 1 Dwight Yoakam, Elle King, Paul Cauthen and Wyatt Flores

BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION

Sep 13-15 Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Steeldrivers, 49 Winchester and more.

JOHNSON CITY

JOHNSON CITY TN

MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Apr 1 ZZ Top

Apr 13 The Chain-Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band

Apr 25 Rain: A tribute to the Beatles

May 17 Black Jacket Symphony will perform Purple Rain From Prince

Aug 17 The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA

FREEDOM HALL

Apr 21 ETSU SGA Spring Concert with Riley Green, Maddie & Tae and Jordy

Apr 27 We The Kingdom

May 16 Breaking Benjamin & Daughtry

GSTLINBURG

GATLINBURG TN

THE MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Aug 23-25 Joan Jett, Tesla, Night Ranger, Foghat, Aldo Nova, Slaughter, Quiet Riot, Lynch Mob, Great White, Dangerous Toys, Vixen and many more.

NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Apr 5 Evil Woman-The American ELO

Apr 13 Firehouse

Apr 27 The Barricade Boys

May 4 Anthem Lights

May 10 John Anderson Acoustic

May 14 Brothers of the Heart

MARION VA

MARION, VA

THE LINCOLN THEATRE

Apr 20 Aaron Tippin

Apr 21 Chapel Hart

Apr 27 William Lee Martin

Jun 15 Mark Lowry & Friends with Endless Highway and The Sound

Aug 24 Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Oct 19 & 20 Gene Watson

Nov 8 Killer Beaz

Nov 16 Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Knoxville

KNOXVILLE TN

BIJOU THEATRE

Apr 2 Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam

Apr 5 Mark Norman

Apr 24 The Wailers

Apr 26 Ruston Kelly

May 31 Steep Canyon Rangers

Jun 14 Kevin Smith

Oct 26 Henry Cho

TENNESSEE THEATRE

Mar 26 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

Mar 30 Pete Davidson

Apr 20 Ashley McBryde

Apr 25 Nickel Creek

May 1 Bonnie Raitt

May 19 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Jun 8 Brad Williams

THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA

Mar 28 Avenged Sevenfold with Poppy & Sullivan King

Apr 4 Sam Hunt

Apr 6 Bert Kreischer

Apr 16 Tyler Childers with 49 Winchester

Apr 21 MercyMe

Apr 26 Tim McGraw and Carly Pearce

Apr 27 Spin the Block with Nelly, Ashanti

& Bone Thugs and Harmony

May 9 & 10 Zach Bryan

May 23 Lionel Richie with Earth Wind & Fire

July 14 The Doobie Brothers with Robert Cray

Aug 24 Heart and Cheap Trick

Sept 12 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain

Oct 25 Jelly Roll

Nov 19 Justin Timberlake

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM:

Mar 26 Bob Dylan

Jun 13 Matt Rife

KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM:

Mar 27 Reo Speedwagon and Rick Springfield

May 11 Kevin Gates

July 25 Jordan Davis

Nashville

NASHVILLE TN

RYMAN AUDITORIUM

Apr 2 Dustin Lynch

Apr 2 The Black Crowes (Opry House)

Apr 4 The Wood Brothers

Apr 5 & 6 Black Pumas

Apr 9 Casting Crowns

Apr 26 Leftover Salmon & the Infamous Stringdusters

Apr 27 Jo Dee Messina

Apr 29 JohnnySwim

May 4 Tracy Lawrence

May 8 Marshall Tucker Band

May 10 & 11 Amy Grant

May 12 Devo

May 14 Sum 41 with The Interrupters

May 16 The Steeldrivers

May 20 Todd Rundgren

May 31-Jun 1 Jim Gaffigan

Jun 6-9 Matt Rife

Jun 13 The Del McCoury Band

Jun 21 & 22 Blackberry Smoke

Jun 30 The Alan Parsons Live Project

Jul 10 Dave Barnes

Jul 24 Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks with special guests

The Return o Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Jul 25 Ricky Scaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Jul 29 Donnie Osmond

BRIDGESTONE ARENA

Apr 14 Jeff Dunham

Apr 18 & 19 Tyler Childers

Apr 25 Tim McGraw

Apr 29 The Postal Service with Death Cab For Cutie and Pulp

May 11 Bad Bunny

May 14 Stevie Nicks

May 24 & 25 Noah Kahan

Jun 3 Niall Horan

Jun 2 James Taylor

Jun 14 Luis Miguel

Jun 23 Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett & Morgan Wade

Jul 27 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain

Aug 9 & 10 Chris Stapleton

Aug 14 Five Finger Death Punch with Marilyn Manson and Slaughter To Prevail

Aug 20 Earth Wind & Fire with Chicago

Aug 22 Jennifer Lopez (cancelled)

Aug 28 Sammy Hagar and Loverboy

BROOKLYN BOWL

Mar 26 & 27 Bob Dylan (sold out)

Apr 24 Ty Segall

May 16 Mammoth WVH

Aug 6 10CC

NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM

Aug 9 Bush with Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox

ASCEND AMPHITHEATRE

Apr 27 Cody Jinks

May 18 Billy Currington & Kip Moore

May 31 & Jun 1 Lainey Wilson

Jun 2 Pixies & Modest Mouse

Jun 22 Cypress Hill

Jun 29 Sarah McLachlan

Jul 12 Styx, Foreigner and John Waite

Jul 13 Lake Street Dive

Aug 3 Thirty Seconds to Mars

Aug 6 Tate McRae

Aug 13 Creed with Tonic and Finger Eleven

Aug 31 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

NISSAN STADIUM

Jun 6-9 CMA Fest

Jun 29 Zach Bryan

70 Years of The Creature from the Black Lagoon

On February 12, 1954, UniversalInternational Pictures premiered their newest movie, a contemporary entry in from the sci-fi/horror vein in the then-popular 3-D format. The movie was “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” which would become a big hit for the studio and give the world a monster that came to be affectionally known as “The Gill Man,” the last monster to be added to the famed line up of monsters from the studio.

The monsters have long been the bread and butter of Universal, it’s a lineup so closely identified with the studio that even when they haven’t made movies featuring the characters for years, they’ve been pop culture staples. It’d be hard to throw a candy bag around on Halloween without finding someone, somewhere, dressed up as one of the seven from the lineup. Dracula, Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and The Gill Man.

In the 1990s the characters had something of a resurgence appearing on everything from TV commercials, toys, T-shirts, hats, and even Pizza Hut boxes. When I read that this month marked the 70th birthday of The Creature, I knew I had to sit down and watch his first movie again. I’m a big fan of the Universal Monsters, and out of all of them, The Creature from the Black Lagoon is my favorite.

By Andy Ross

Directed by Jack Arnold, who helmed several notable sci-fi films for the studio such as “It Came From Outer Space” and “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” and with an iconic monster design by Millicent Patrick, “Creature from the Black Lagoon” is about an expedition up the Amazon river who come across the halfman, half-fish creature. The movie holds up today and is just a delight to watch. I’ve had the pleasure of not only seeing it on the big screen, which was great but also I got to see it in 3-D once. A moviewatching experience I won’t forget. Universal asked to keep the ending of the movie a little open in case the film would warrant a sequel, and soon after the original film opened they began work on the follow-up. “Revenge of the Creature” would be released the following year and again in 3-D. This time the Gill Man has been caught and brought to a sea world-type amusement park, where he eventually breaks out

and havoc ensues.

“Revenge” isn’t too bad, and does have an uncredited appearance by an early in his career Clint Eastwood, but it doesn’t quite live up to the first film. It too was a hit and in 1956 Universal released the third and final film in the series “The Creature Walks Among Us.” This one is a, well, a bit of a headscratcher. The creature is burned badly and scientists find that under his scales there is a layer of human skin. So they dress him up in a little suit jacket and the gill man spends most of his time wandering around looking like Herman Munster in a mask.

Despite Gill Man’s last time on the big screen being something of a low point, the character has endured. I also bring up Herman Munster above as according to an episode of “The Munsters” he is canonically related to the family, they call him “Uncle Gilbert.” There have

been countless toys, action figures, model kits, and merch over the years with the character. Most notably a truly fantastic pinball machine from 1993, and he appearing with the other Universal Monsters in the 1998 pinball game “Monster Bash.”

There’s been talks of remakes over the years, but nothing has ever come together. As Universal prepares to open their monster land in Orlando next year, one of the rumors is the park will feature a boat ride with the Gill Man, something I hope is true as I would love that. “Creature From The Black Lagoon” is more than just an iconic movie monster, he has become something of an iconic piece of Americana. I’m so glad to see The Gill Man make it to 70 and I hope we celebrate him, and the other Universal Monsters, for 70 more. See you next week.