Bearden Shopper-News 010212

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GOVERNMENT/POLITICS A4-5 | OUR COLUMNISTS A6-7, 9 | YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS A10 | BUSINESS A11 | HEALTH & LIFESTYLES SECTION B

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VOL. 6, NO. 1

JANUARY 2, 2012

INSIDE

In this issue!

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Harpdogs serve up Blue Plate By Wendy Smith The Bearden High School Harpdogs made a rare public appearance at the WDVX Blue Plate Special last week, and radio host Red Hickey encouraged the crowd to savor the moment. “They have no merchandise and no website, so we have to enjoy what we have right now,” she said. The Harpdogs harmonica club practices once a week after school. If students are committed enough, Bearden teacher and club sponsor Barry Faust arranges for them to perform on the live radio show, which is broadcast from the Knoxville Visitor’s Center at noon, six days a week. Only two of the five performers were Bearden students. Harpdogs alumnus Nick Sisco kept the tunes moving on drums, and fiddle and guitar player Coleman Akin, who practiced with the group just once, filled out the sound. The youngest musician was freshman Jeff Gantt, the group’s bassist. He plays stand-up bass with the Bearden orchestra as well as the Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the jam session style of the Harpdogs is an enjoyable departure for him. “Everyone watches everyone,” he says. “I just play the key, and all the parts come together sooner or later.” Faust praised Gantt from the stage. “He was a Christmas present to the band this year.” Senior Jimmy Weir is a Harpdogs

FEATURED COLUMNIST BETTY BEAN

Meet ‘Jane’ A practicing psychologist discusses her own struggles with mental illness. See page A-6

NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ

City/County Christmas tree recycling Knox County will recycle Christmas trees throughout January at Dutchtown Convenience Center , 10618 Dutchtown Road; Forks of the River Convenience Center, 3106 Water Plant Road; Halls Convenience Center, 3608 Neal Drive; John Sevier Convenience Center, 1810 John Sevier Highway; Powell Convenience Center, 7311 Morton View Lane; and Gibbs Convenience Center, 7201 Tazewell Pike. Trees must be cleaned of all ornaments, lights, wire, string and other décor.

veteran. He plays harmonica, guitar, mandolin, keyboards and bass guitar. He stuck with guitar and harmonica for the performance, even though he just learned to play the guitar this year. His favorite instrument is the bass, but he loves the convenience of the harp. “The harmonica is awesome. You put it in your pocket, and you can be anywhere with it.” He learned his harmonica tech-

nique from Faust, whom he calls a genius. Playing harp is only half technique, he says. The other half is finding a personal style, and he’s still working on that. Weir went toe-to-toe with Faust on the harp during a soulful rendition of “Built for Comfort,” a Harpdogs standard. Faust also sang the song, which he called “autobiographical.” He is the anchor of the group. He lends experienced vocals, guitar

and harmonica to the act and quietly communicates musical transitions to the young musicians. He learned to play the harmonica when he was 17, and he calls the instrument “magic.” It’s simple to play, he says, but difficult to master. He is also a calming presence to the less-experienced performers. “I always tell them, ‘You’re gonna mess up. Don’t worry about it; we’ll fi x it later in the song.’ ”

up on Gay Street. For more than 80 years, the theatre has been an icon of downtown, but never has the area been as alive and thriving as it is today.” Food and wine will be available in the renovated lobby. Backreflect the downtown theme, all ac- stage tours include the expanded tivities will highlight aspects of the stage, dressing rooms, the Mighty downtown area. Wurlitzer and performance hall. “The Tennessee Theatre holds The swing band Old City Buska special place in the hearts and ers will perform. The band got their minds of Knoxvillians,” said Mark start playing in Market Square, and Mamantov, who chairs the Tennes- their name is an homage to their see Theatre board. roots and the era of swing. “Downtown scenery would not Artist Mike Berry will exhibit his be complete without the unique artwork. Berry has painted many marquee, box office and blade lit pieces inspired by scenes of down-

town and the Tennessee Theatre. A caricature artist will give guests some personalized artwork as a memento of their evening. Guests are pictured headlining the Tennessee Theatre with their name up in lights on the marquee. “As downtown Knoxville continues to thrive and grow, the Tennessee Theatre wants to be a part of the positive change,” Mamantov said. “With this event, we want the people of Knoxville to recognize the Tennessee Theatre as their theatre, to own this gorgeous, state-of-theart venue and truly experience the entertainment and magic of the Tennessee Theatre.”

Party at the Tennessee Theatre on First Friday

Christmas tree collection in the city is the same process as for brush collection. After all decorations have been removed, trees should be placed at the street for collection.

The Tennessee Theatre will open from 5-9 p.m. Jan. 6 during Knoxville’s First Friday to celebrate the atmosphere and culture of downtown and the role the Tennessee Theatre plays in its revitalization. The celebration in the lobby will include live music, artwork by Mike Berry, wine tasting, food, a caricature artist and backstage tours. To

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Burchett looks at the year ahead

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By Larry Van Guilder Mayor Tim Burchett is the chief fiscal officer for Knox County, so it comes as no surprise that his focus for 2012 can be summed up in two words: the budget. “We’re in constant discussions about the budget,” Burchett says. He also has bi-weekly meetings with Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre. Last year, $7 million in federal stimulus money funded programs and some personnel costs for the schools. That money is gone, but the needs are as great as ever. “My concern is that cuts

10512 Lexington Dr., Ste. 500 37932 (865) 218-WEST (9378) news@ShopperNewsNow.com ads@ShopperNewsNow.com EDITOR Larry Van Guilder lvgknox@mindspring.com ADVERTISING SALES Darlene Hacker hackerd@ShopperNewsNow.com Debbie Moss mossd@ShopperNewsNow.com Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 10512 Lexington Drive, Suite 500, Knoxville, TN, and distributed to 24,267 homes in Bearden.

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Burchett says Knox County is “a donor community” currently, and the former state senator understands what it takes to change that: “17 votes in the Senate and 50 in the House.” Burchett slimmed down the county administrative budget last year, and the cuts weren’t nearly as draconian some feared. The mayor says the “tweaking” will continue, and the buck Tim Burchett will stop on his desk. “When they talk about don’t affect the classroom,” (cutting) ‘a few percentage the mayor says. points,’ I’m the one who has One source for offsetting to make those decisions,” some of the stimulus money he says, and it’s never easy, loss is the Basic Education especially where jobs are Program (BEP) which dis- concerned. “You can’t run tributes state education dol- government like a business lars to local school districts. or business like the govern-

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ment,” he adds. Burchett acknowledges that closing the Lakeshore Mental Health Institute potentially could burden the county with what amounts to an unfunded mandate. “I hope we don’t use that as an excuse to grow government,” he says. “I hope those dollars follow the patients. “Unfortunately, we’re not equipped (to care for the patients) and neither is J.J. (Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones).” Already there’s talk on County Commission about beefing up local outpatient treatment programs, but Burchett says he’s optimistic the state will do the right thing. “I texted the governor and he assured us those folks will be taken care of.” Dean Rice, the mayor’s chief of staff, says the administration will “stay the course”

in 2012: Continue to “shrink the footprint” and “spend less.” To that the mayor adds that government needs to become less intrusive. “Too many times I’ll hear, ‘What’s government doing for jobs’? I say it gets out of the way and lets businesses operate.” Burchett successfully championed a new elementary school for the Carter community, but, in general, he says he’s not a “big project” fan. “Instead of starting new programs, pay down the debt,” he says. (Last year’s budget included the administration’s plan to pare the debt by $100 million over five years.) “It’s not sexy, it doesn’t make headlines,” Burchett says, “but those millions we save now will pay off down the road.”

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