Bearden Shopper-News 121714 by Shopper-News

VOL. 8 NO. 50

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NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ IN THIS ISSUE

Teaching 9/11

Lights fantastic at Chilhowee Park Take a minute to tour Chilhowee Park after dark to see a forest of lighted trees floating on the lake. You never leave your car. The exhibit will continue until Jan. 1. It’s sponsored by Xfinity, WVLT Channel 8, Knoxville News Sentinel, 93.1 WNOX, Krispy Kreme, Cheerwine, and The Muse Knoxville.

Bearden teacher writes the book on 9/11 education

Tour de Lights On Friday, Dec. 19, bring a bike to Market Square to enjoy Tour de Lights – a fun, free, casual 5-mile bike ride that starts from Market Square and tours downtown, 4th and Gill and Old North Knoxville. Ride starts at 7 p.m. but judging begins at 6 p.m. and prizes are awarded after the ride in several categories, including Best-Decorated Bike, Best Decorated Person, and Best Group Theme. Mast General Store and Three Rivers Market will provide hot cocoa and cookies for participants. Helmets, white front light, and red rear reflector are required and all ages and skill levels are welcome. Info at www.knoxtrans.org/.

Legacy Parks lists outdoor adventures Join your friends for some outdoor activities. In addition to Tour de Lights, Trek South is sponsoring a Fort Dickerson Hike at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Augusta Street entrance. Walk around Concord Park to see the Knox County Festival of Lights, running from 6-9 p.m. through Dec. 30. It’s sponsored by the county’s Parks and Recreation Department. Come for a bike ride Saturday, Dec. 27, at 9 a.m. as the Knoxville Bicycle Company sponsors the Saturday Dam Road Ride. Meet at 10657 Hardin Valley Road.

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P.E. is not for all

If you like your ShopperNews, you might also enjoy the other seven papers we produce weekly for Knox and Union counties. Each paper contains unique writing. Where to look? Go online to www. ShopperNewsNow.com/. We post each Tuesday at 6 p.m. This week’s Union County edition, for instance, has a story from Ronnie Mincey about his time in high school physical education: P.E. to Ronnie meant “personal embarrassment.”

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December 17, 2014

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Bearden Middle School eighth-graders Victoria Hinkley and Maggie Jones discuss their 9/11 artwork with art teacher Mike Weininger and technology coach Steve Shedden. The pastel drawing, which was accepted into this year’s East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition at the KMA, will appear on a T-shirt that’s an incentive for Shedden’s Kickstarter campaign. He is raising funds to publish a book on 9/11 education. Photo by Wendy Smith

By Wendy Smith Steve Shedden had been a police officer in New York City for 20 years when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell. But he wasn’t at work that day. He was in Florida on the last day of his vacation. Missing the greatest national disaster since the attack on Pearl Harbor didn’t bring him any peace. He’s suffered through a variety of issues since, including survivor’s guilt. Says Shedden: “It’s been horrible for me.” But Shedden, a technology coach and lead teacher at Bearden

Middle School, has used his emotions – and his extra days on the planet – to make sure that students learn about that fateful day. “To be a police officer is a calling,” he says. “Since 9/11, my calling is teaching kids about 9/11 and teaching teachers how to teach about 9/11.” Shedden has used the event as a teaching tool since he was hired as a math teacher at Bearden Middle in 2006. He and BMS art teacher Mike Weininger have also instructed teachers in seven states on how to teach the topic. He’s

now compiled enough material, including essays and artwork from Bearden students and tales from his own journey, to publish a book. Shedden is raising money for the 120-page work, to be published by Balfour, with a Kickstarter campaign. He hopes to raise $15,000 by the end of December for “Tragedy Transformed: Building the Next Generation of American Leaders from the Ashes of 9/11.” The book details ways that teachers can incorporate 9/11 education into core classes.

When Shedden was a math teacher, he used a model fire truck to teach scale factor. After showing students a 1/64th scale truck, he instructed them to build a 1/64th scale model of the Twin Towers. The 22.5-foot model had to be completed in the school auditorium. While Shedden no longer teaches math, another math teacher has taken over the annual project. When students place the fire truck, with its 6.5-inch ladder ex-

Trees by the numbers By Betsy Pickle The city of Knoxville’s urban forester, Kasey Krouse, held the floor for the lion’s share of the December Tree Board meeting. Reporting on the activities of the Urban Forestry Division in 2014 during the meeting at Ijams Nature Center, Krouse shared some impressive numbers. As of mid-November, Urban Forestry had: ■ Removed 726 trees –

381 high-risk tree removals and 345 trees downed by storms ■ Pruned 1,407 trees and picked up 1.5 million pounds of brush ■ Planted more than 600 trees from the 201314 planting contract ■ Watered 2,141 trees during the 2014 growing season ■ Inventoried more than 5,000 trees ■ Developed and exe- Joanne Logan and Louise Gorenflo visit the Knoxville Tree cuted a plan to save the six Board. Photo by Betsy Pickle

Midway on back burner By Betty Bean This fall, the Knox County Development Corporation (TDC) loaded a bunch of county officials and business leaders onto a bus and took them on a tour of four of the county’s eight industrial/business parks. WestBridge, Hardin, Eastbridge and the Pellissippi Corporate Center were on the itinerary. Midway Road wasn’t. Nor was it included in an industrial land inventory conducted earlier in the year by TDC and the Knoxville Chamber, an odd omission in light of the nearly 20-year battle that has been waged over the county-owned parcel at the Midway Road intersection of I-40. The Development Corporation has been

desperately seeking a large parcel of developable land; residents of Thorn Grove and Mike Edwards surrounding communities have fought to preserve the area’s rural character. Chamber CEO Mike Edwards, a major player in the last round of negotiations (in 2010), said he’s no longer directly involved (the chamber has spun off TDC to become a stand-alone body) but said although Midway hasn’t been part of recent discussions, it’s now more developable because TVA has installed “a

big, huge transfer station” on the parcel and KUB also has built a substation there. “We weren’t crazy about TVA wanting to flop its footprint on Midway, but it was an easement they’d owned for a long, long time. So now the utilities are out there, and I think a sewer system is in place, too.” Elaine Clark, president of the French Broad Preservation Association, is reluctant to talk about Midway (perhaps observing the “don’t trouble trouble till trouble troubles you” admonition), except for expressing some skepticism of Edwards’ claim about the availability of sewer for the park site, which she described as “a two-acre drip field.” She said she’d like to

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see the task force county Mayor Tim Burchett put together early in his first term under the leadership of former tourism head Gloria Ray resurrected. (The task force dissolved in 2012 when Ray resigned as CEO of the Sports and Tourism Corp.) “We were making real progress,” Clark said. “That’s something that should be revived.” Todd Napier, CEO of TDC, said there was no reason to include Midway on the bus tour, which they were trying to conduct in four hours. He said there’s really nothing to see on the parcel, which is now on the books as a $6.4 million investment, down from the original $10 million after the write-down of the TVA acquisition. Midway is in Com-

To page A-3

sawtooth oaks on Market Square The Urban Forestry Division ensures proper planting and maintenance of public trees. It is responsible for more than 20,000 public trees in maintained areas and hundreds of thousands of other trees in natural areas and along city rights-of-way. Krouse has been working to simplify and revise the city’s tree policies. He expects to present a final

To page A-3

missioner Dave Wright’s Eighth District. He’s also on TDC board and was interviewed just hours after its December meeting. He said he had “the latest, greatest, most breaking news” about what’s going on with Midway. “Nothing. “But it’s going to be something someday. We’ve got kids graduating from Carter and the Career Magnet Academy who’ll be looking for a job. I’d rather see them on the Midway Road exit as opposed to Hardin Valley.” Bill Emmert, whose back porch is a stone’s throw from the boundary of the proposed business park, said neighbors remain vigilant. “It’s as quiet as a mouse, but I’m sure they’re doing something,” he said. “We’re watching.”

A-2 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF KNOXVILLE

CAK students boost Deuteronomy 16:17 reminds readers that “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” CAK students took great joy in giving back to area children less fortunate this year. The school teamed up with the Emerald Youth Foundation (EYF) to bring about a few more smiles over the Christmas season. Emerald Youth is committed to ministering to Knoxville’s urban youth by providing services that include after school educational programs and sport programs. Each of the CAK schools supports this ministry in different ways. The Elementary and Middle Schools purchased gifts for children appropriate their age, along with recreational equipment. The high school provided school supplies. The EYF goal of giftings was met, even exceeded the schools, but the real joy was found in giving gifts to others.

Emerald Youth Foundation

Mrs. Grady’s 1st grade class praying over the gifts donated for Emerald Youth Foundation students.

Recipe of the Month

Lacrosse ‘throw around’ The Friday after Thanksgiving, CAK’s turf eld was full of energy. They weren’t throwing around a football, however, they were using lacrosse sticks. “We called it a ‘throw around,’” CAK Athletic Di-

rector John East said. “Just a chance to get a group together to do some drills, shooting, and have fun. What it told me is that, yes, we absolutely have students who have the ability to be very successful.”

Eggnog Panna Cotta

Cheerleaders win Regionals The Warrior Cheerleaders won Regionals Dec. 7, at the UCA Smoky Mountain Christmas Championship for the fourth year in a row. They also placed second in the state in Murfreesboro two weeks ago and received a bid to Disney World for the national high school championships in February. Pictured are the Christian Academy of Knoxville Warrior Cheerleaders.

Stallings in Macy’s Parade Senior Megan Stallings represented CAK in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City last month.

By Josh Shupe, Executive Chef, Sage Dining Services at CAK 1 quart Eggnog 8 oz Granulated Sugar 4 oz Cold Water 7 Tbl Gelatin In a sauce pan bring the Eggnog and sugar to a boil. While the eggnog is heating up on the stove, place the water and gelatin in a bowl and let set. Pour heated eggnog into bowl with the gelatin, mix with a whisk until all is incorporated. You can fill any size portion cup you want to serve it in. Once all mixture is portioned up, place in refrigerator for the mix to firm up. Before serving put whipped cream on top and sprinkle with cinnamon.

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community

BEARDEN Shopper news • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • A-3

Teaching 9/11

Dr. George Schweitzer visits with Brighton Belleman in front of “The Christmas Stump,” a hand-carved German nativity set that dates back to the 18th century.

Historical fun at ETHS Open House

tended, next to the model of the towers, they understand the futility experienced by first responders, he says. Another personal story to be included is that of a student handing Shedden a lumpy envelope from her mother. When he opened the package, he found an American Airlines pin and a note thanking him for teaching her daughter about 9/11. The mother, a flight attendant, was scheduled to work on one of the ill-fated flights that day but stayed home to care for her sick daughter. The book will also tell the story of Shedden’s old friend Patrick Barr. They served together as police officers before Barr transitioned to the NYC Fire Department. Since Shedden had been a volunteer firefighter before joining the police department, he passed on to Barr a medal featuring St. Florian, patron saint of firefighters. Barr was reported killed

From page A-1 on 9/11, but three days later, Shedden learned he was alive. When they spoke, the first words out of Barr’s mouth were, “It was the medal.” Shedden would like everyone to understand that 9/11 continues to take a toll on first responders. Since that day, 71 police officers have died of illnesses related to the tragedy. Approximately 800 members of the FDNY and 550 members of the NYPD have been diagnosed with cancer and other serious illness stemming from the collapse of the Twin Towers. He also wants students to know that, after 9/11, New York City lived by the motto “United We Stand.” It was an example of the strength of racial diversity and is an important lesson for Bearden Middle’s diverse student body. Info: www.kickstarter. com and search “Tragedy Transformed.”

Pancakes with Santa to benefit Sunnyview families Pancakes with Santa, sponsored by TN LEO WIVES Association, will be held 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Anderson Lodge 25 Fraternal Order Of Police, 424 Goans Ave., Clinton. The event features all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee. Santa will be talking to the kids, and photo opportunities will be available. Cost: $6 at the door, $5 in advance. Proceeds will be donated to the families of the victims from Sunnyview Primary School who were killed Dec. 2. Info: Marie Roberts, 228-9697; Niki Lucas, 566-1247; https://www.facebook.com/tnleo.wives.

Storyteller Elizabeth Rose mesmerizes at the Holiday Open House. Photos by Wendy Smith

COMMUNITY NOTES Crafts, stories and a very old nativity set were the main attractions at the East Tennessee Historical Society Holiday Open House.

The Akard siblings, Asher, James, Grace and Alex, make clothespin angels at the East Tennessee Historical Society Holiday Open House.

Wendy Smith

Visitors enjoyed cookies and cider while listening to storyteller Elizabeth Rose weave tales of Christmases past. Local crafters were on hand with their wares, and children used their own crafting skills to make ornaments and other goodies. George Schweitzer, UT professor emeritus and historical society board member, wore German attire while telling visitors about a hand-carved nativity set that’s currently on display at the History Center. The 75-piece set was carved by the Fickey family from approximately 1770 to 1835, and they brought it History center volunteers Susan Dominick and Dick Bendy with them when they made offer holiday cheer. their way from Germany to the Southeast U.S. in 1883. They eventually landed in Rockwood and passed the the nativity to the ETHS. today, Schweitzer says. A set on to their family phyFortunately, the set was hand-carved carousel with sician, Dr. George Wilson. sealed up for years, which hand-carved figures is also The Wilson family donated preserved it to be enjoyed part of the collection.

Trees by the numbers document to City Council in January. He floated the concept of having a local tree foundation to support the work of the Tree Board and the Urban Forestry Division. “If you … look at those cities that have really reputable urban forestry programs, a lot of them have a not-for-profit or tree foundation that sits at their side that really tries to push tree planting or tree preservation in and around the city,” he said. Krouse said a tree foundation could facilitate education programs and planting on private property.

A group called Climate Knoxville has approached Krouse about the possibility of forming a tree foundation. Representatives Louise Gorenflo and Joanne Logan attended the Tree Board meeting to introduce the collective of nonprofits, churches and businesses that are concerned about climate change. Gorenflo said Climate Knoxville was interested in doing work on urban-forestry policy, “recognizing that a vibrant urban canopy is vital to moderating the climate of urban areas, in terms of extreme weather.” A tree foundation exploratory meeting

From page A-1 is tentatively set for 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at Ijams. Tom Simpson, East Tennessee Regional Urban Forester for the Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry, offered a giftgiving tip. The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council has published a hardcover coffee-table book called “Trees of Tennessee.” The 128-page book contains more than 150 images of 68 notable, champion, landmark, historic and heritage trees along with facts, legends and tales of the trees. The $40 price includes sales tax; shipping is free. Info: www.tufc.com/.

■ Council of West Knox County Homeowners meets at 7:15 p.m. each first Tuesday, Peace Lutheran Church, 621 N. Cedar Bluff Road. Info: www.cwkch.com/. ■ Historic Sutherland Heights Neighborhood Association. Info: Marlene Taylor, 951-3773,

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A-4 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

Black and white talk A white man and a black man, more than lunchcounter acquaintances, perhaps co-workers, were talking Tennessee football.

Marvin West

The white man said the Volunteers are mostly black. To be politically correct, he said African-Americans. The black man chuckled, disagreed gently and started listing white positions: the kickers, a receiver with promise, some offensive linemen and two quarterbacks. “And most of the coaches.” The white guy grinned and said something about trading in one or two for another Tommy Thigpen, zesty recruiter. I pretended not to hear such heresy, but both knew I had been listening since the first mention of Tennessee. The white man asked, pointedly, when was college foot-

ball integrated? He knew just enough about Lester McClain to be dangerous in this discussion. “Long before Lester,” said I. That was the introduction to William Henry Lewis, Amherst College, center, captain and class orator, 1891. This son of a preacher man went on to Harvard Law School and played some more football, which made him the first black athlete at two schools. After that, he coached at Harvard for 12 seasons. He racked up a 114–15–5 record because a lot of other teams didn’t know what they were doing. Walter Camp named Lewis to his all-time AllAmerica team as of 1900. This was the beginning of diversity. A personal friend, President Theodore Roosevelt, who just happened to be a Harvard alumnus, decided in 1903 that Lewis was the best man in America to serve as U.S. Assistant Attorney General. Critics tried to explain away the appoint-

ment by saying Lewis was “so light in color that only his intimate friends know him to be a negro.” The New York Times did not capitalize Negro in 1903. The memory of William Henry Lewis lives on. In 1980, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame remembered that he grew up in Berkley and Portsmouth. Bingo, you’re in. In 2009, Lewis was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. My audience was properly impressed. “So, you do know something,” said the white guy. I told them some of what I know about Lester McClain. The Nashville receiver was No. 2 in Doug Dickey’s integration plan, roommate for Albert Davis of Alcoa. The university chose not to admit Albert. Kentucky signed two black football players before Tennessee signed Lester, but he was first to play a significant role in the Southeastern Conference. He arrived in August

1967, 13 years after the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education decision. I was out front at Gibbs Hall when his father and brother helped him move his belongings from the family car to the dorm. I said hello to him and goodbye to them. Lester remembers that when they drove away was the first time it hit him. He was the first black, the only black, in a strange, new world. “Lester McClain, what have you done?” He did great. He caught a pass from Bubba Wyche in the first UT game on artificial turf. Condredge Holloway, in “The Color Orange,” says everybody needs to know who Lester McClain is. “We all owe him a great deal of respect and honor because he went through a lot of adversity for us. After him, it became easier.” Lester made it look easy. He caught 70 passes. He scored 12 touchdowns. He won respect. He maintained dignity. He still does. Marvin West invites reader reactions. His address is westwest6@netzero.com.

Time marches on, except when it sprints No sense in denying my innate charm any longer. In the past few months I’ve gained many friends, and the only thing that’s changed is the approach of my 65th birthday. It could be that air of wisdom that surrounds us elder statesmen, even though most of my new friends want to sell me something. But, heck, we all have to make a living, and if you can’t count on your friends to buy your product, who can you count on? Strangely, an inordinate number of my new pals work for, are affiliated with or tout insurance companies. All sell Medicare supplement plans, and they all want to make sure I choose a plan that’s right for me. I haven’t been treated to such consideration since my drill sergeant showed me the “right” way to align items in my foot locker. The grocery stores and drugstores have been my buddies for a while now, offering me regular senior discounts. Now if they would only offer me discounts on things I really need, like astronomically expensive prescription medications. I guess you shouldn’t expect too much, even from such thoughtful friends. My good buddies at AARP (that’s American Association of Retired Persons

into my checking account! I did with those addresses. For the cynics who say Until then I can contentthe feds are only paying edly ponder the big quesLarry back the money I loaned tions that surround reachVan Guilder them over lo these many ing 65. These include: years, that’s more than What the heck happened? some friends do. (Roger Yesterday I was 40! Needham: You still owe me Do I really need to $5 for your drive-in theater change my socks every day? Will anyone notice? for you youngsters) are now ticket and hot dog.) For all these acts of kindWhen did pickle jars beamong my closest friends. Among other displays ness and more, I intend to come so hard to open? Why are those other drivof true friendship, AARP’s write thank-you notes as newsletter advises me on soon as my AARP-recom- ers honking at me? For answers to these how to avoid scams aimed mended vitamin and minerat doddering fools like yours al memory-enhancing pills questions, stay tuned to this truly. Since they’re dealing kick in and I remember what column. with a person who once purchased a Chevrolet Vega (in his youth, no less), that’s a tall order. The newsletter also inspires me to look my best with regular cover photos of 70-year-old celebrities who don’t look a day over 45. So what if these gorgeous senior specimens are godparents to their plastic surgeons’ children? By purchasing the nutritional supplements and preparing the healthy recipes sprinkled throughout the newsletter, I can look just as good! Happily, just when I thought the federal government no longer loved me (except for the “tough love” shown by the IRS), Nick Pavlis, Knoxville vice mayor and City Council memthe Social Security Adminber, reads a Christmas story to children on the Santa Train. istration has become my One particularly interested child is another Nick. That is BFF. Nick Holladay, son of Scott and Sara Holladay of Bearden The SSA demonstrates and grandson of Jim and Rita Holladay of Farragut. Photo their undying devotion by submitted making a monthly deposit

Reading on the Santa Train

Campbell Station Inn For docents at the Farragut Folklife Museum, one of the most frequently asked questions – posed by both newcomers and longtime residents – is this: “Tell me something about the stately old home on the corner.” Of course, they are inquiring about the Avery Russell home at the intersection of Campbell Station Road and Kingston Pike. The original home was built in the Federalist style that was common on the frontier in the late 1700s. There has always been some question about when the home was built and who built it. It was first thought that Col. David Campbell, the co-founder of Campbell’s Station, built the home as early as 1810. Perhaps this misconception came from the fact that locally it was called “Campbelton,” prompting many to assume the Campbell family had built it. However, Col. Campbell sold the land and about 300 acres in 1823 to Samuel Martin, and it is now believed that Martin built the home sometime between 1823 and 1835. Unfortunately, deed transfers at the time did not disclose whether there was an improvement to the property that would indicate a structure. The Russell family purchased the home shortly before the Civil War, and six generations of the family lived there until it was purchased by the town of Farragut in 2012. We do know that Martin built an inn just east of the home on present-day Campbell Station Road. And we know that it was a popular staging area for settlers moving on to the Cumberland settlements and ultimately to Nashborough (Nashville). Sometimes as many as 60 families would gather there to be escorted through the wilderness by the Cumberland Guards, and we know that Martin was a member of the Guards. We now know that while the structure was not the actual Campbell Station Inn, it probably housed its guest overflow. Martin was a well-educated man, a bit unusual for the frontier at the time, and we know he owned an extensive library in the style of Thomas Jefferson. He was also a very close friend of Andrew Jackson, with whom he shared a common interest in fine racehorses. In fact, the two went into partnership to build a racetrack, probably located somewhere on present-day Concord Road. This was not a relationship that would seem likely, since the two men were at the opposite ends of the political spectrum. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the

Malcolm Shell

home is the colorful array of guests who stayed there. Among those were G.W. Featherstone, the famed British geologist; Andréa Michaux, the French botanist; and Louis Philippe, who would become King of France and rule from 1830 to 1848. One account is that Featherstone and his son had been working in the area and were quite dirty. As they approached the inn they saw President Jackson sitting in front of a window smoking a long-stem clay pipe. They were hesitant to approach the president in their untidy condition, but Jackson quickly commented, “Don’t worry son, your dirt will easily wash off, but if you were in politics, you might find it harder to wash away.” We also know that Featherstone had a confrontation with a man that night who was armed with two pistols and a dirk knife, and that he relieved the man of all his weapons and threw him out the door. Another colorful guest was Louis Philippe, the socalled “Citizen King,” who lived four years in Philadelphia during Napoleon’s reign, and during those four years toured the Southern states and spent four nights at the inn. It is reported that a trade envoy from Campbell’s Station visited France during Philippe’s reign, and when one of the members told the king where he was from, Philippe answered: “Ay, yes, Campbell’s Station. Do they still sleep four in a bed at the inn?” We can surmise that the inn must have been a “swinging place” because shortly after building it, Martin advertised in the Knoxville Gazette for 2,000 gallons of good whiskey in new kegs with each keg not to contain more than 36 gallons. He also advertised for coppersmiths, promising steady work with good pay. Of course, copper was used for tubing and vessels in distilling alcohol, so Martin probably planned to make his own whiskey. The town of Farragut’s intent is to restore the home to its original condition. When completed, visitors to “Campbelton,” who now can only drive by the structure and wonder about its history, will be able to take guided tours with knowledgeable docents in period dress. Reliving the stately old home’s colorful past, guests will walk in the footsteps of presidents and kings.

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government

BEARDEN Shopper news â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 17, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ A-5

Five votes rule at school board Both law director and state AG opine

On Dec. 2, Tennessee Attorney General Herb Slattery shot a hole through the provision in Superintendent James McIntyreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contract requiring six votes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a supermajority of the ninemember board of education â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to fire him. Opinion 14-102 came in response to a question from Oak Ridge Sen. Randy McNally (who also represents a sliver of Knox County) asking whether such a contract provision can override state law, which calls for local school boards to conduct their business by a

Betty Bean simple majority vote. The newly appointed Slattery, who previously served as Gov. Bill Haslamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general counsel, said no. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A board of education may not, by contract, limit its statutory decision-making authority by requiring a supermajority vote to approve termination of a director of schools when the

statute provides for termination by majority vote. The supermajority voting requirement is unenforceable.â&#x20AC;? In an interesting coincidence, school board member Doug Harris had asked Knox County Law Director Bud Armstrong to research this question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is a simple majority vote required for the Knox County Board of Education to transact business?â&#x20AC;? Armstrongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memo, dated the same day as Slatteryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion, came to the same conclusion:

Pay boost for Welch Jeff Welch, who will be interim director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission come Jan. 1, will receive an $11,000 pay raise for total salary of $110,000. He will receive a car allowance of $4,300, prorated on a monthly basis. This pay was determined by Mayors Tim Burchett and Madeline Rogero, for whom Welch will work. Under the new MPC system, Welch reports to the two mayors. He presents issues to the MPC, but those commissioners do not hire

for Jan. 13 and led by Bill Lyons, deputy city mayor. Responses from applicants Victor to date are dismal. Only Ashe four out of 30 applications meet basic requirements for the job. Many of the other applicants are clearly not qualified for the directoror fire him. If you think that ship. is weird, you are right. The The process is directed full story on how the Legis- largely by Lyons. lature changed the system â&#x2013; If you like to hike or has not been written. walk, you would be amazed Meanwhile, the MPC di- and pleased to learn about rector search committee all the walks available continues to meet in secret, right here in Knox County. with their next meeting set If you are looking for that

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A majority of the board shall be required to conduct all business before it in both regular and special called meetings â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thus the section of the policy, rule or contracted action would be superseded by statute and void by operation of law. It takes only five (5) votes for the Knox County Board of Education to implement any action.â&#x20AC;? Armstrong said he started working on the opinion after hearing the question of whether adding agenda items requires unanimous consent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It turned out that this was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;policyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d come up

with. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d said that the legislature says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Five votes, you can do anything; all business will be conducted by a majority.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;That didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit their vision, and one board member asked for a written opinion. I finally got it done and sent it to Doug Harris on Tuesday,â&#x20AC;? Armstrong said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Two days later, out of the clear blue comes this attorney generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion, and it was right on point. It takes five votes to terminate, and you cannot contract around it. You cannot create a policy or a contract to circumvent the majority vote requirement by saying it only takes five votes to

hire and six to fire. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The statute prevails.â&#x20AC;? Last December, during the heat of teacher complaints about McIntyreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies, the school board voted 8-1 to extend his contract by an additional year (until 2017), fanning the flames of discontent during an election year. By yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end, the superintendent would see his majority whittled to 5-4. The county is contractually obligated to pay McIntyre his $220,800 annual salary plus benefits until its expiration date unless he resigns or is terminated for cause.

last-minute Christmas gift, this might be the one for you. It is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Urban Hikes in Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee,â&#x20AC;? written by Ron Shrieves, Mac Post and Christine Hamilton. It is a project of the local Harvey Broome Group of the Sierra Club. These three writers are devoted outdoors people who know their subject. You can get it from Legacy Parks by calling 5252585 or going by their office on Volunteer Landing. Cost is $25, of which $15 goes to Legacy Parks. At a recent book-signing at Mast General Store, the supply sold out in two hours. However, more are available. This writer wrote the foreword to the book, and Will Skelton wrote the introduction. The number, variety and diverse locations of so many trails in an urban area are truly remarkable and part of what makes Knoxville an incredibly special place to live. This 163page guide will be the â&#x20AC;&#x153;go toâ&#x20AC;? book for anyone wanting to walk, bike or hike in and

around Knoxville. There should be one in every Knox County public library. It is no secret that as mayor, one of my proudest accomplishments was expanding the parks and greenways. I wanted a good-size park within an eight-minute drive of every city resident. I wanted greenways everywhere. My goal was to add three to four miles of greenways to the system every year for the 16 years I served as mayor. The success depended on having a mayor and council totally committed to making it happen. The pace at which the greenways were built by the city has slipped to less than one mile a year since I left

office 11 years ago. Legacy Parks (which is not the city) has helped to fill the gap under the dynamic leadership of Carol Evans. Tennessee Clean Water Network has worked along Williams Creek, too, under the equally determined leadership of Renee Hoyos. The recent 34-cent Rogero property tax hike contains some money for greenways. However, the challenge for our mayor will be whether she turns her attention and focus on getting them built. She has less than a year left in this current term and only four more years after that if she is re-elected. I hope she makes this part of her legacy, too.

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GOV NOTES â&#x2013; City Council Sign Task Force will meet 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the KCDC board room, 910 N. Broadway. â&#x2013; Knox County Democratic Party will host its holiday celebration 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Communications Workers of America Union Hall, 1415 Elm St. Everyone should bring a side dish and suggested donation of $5.

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DOE chief of staff Kevin Knobloch recognizes Mayor Madeline Rogero for Knoxvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designation as a Climate Action Champion. Photo by Wendy Smith

DOE chief recognizes Knoxvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

bright energy future Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the biggest city in the region, or even the state. But Knoxville has developed a national reputation for being energy-savvy, and, according to Department of Energy chief of staff Kevin Knobloch, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re uniquely positioned to attract energy business.

Wendy Smith

Knobloch was in town last week to speak at a workshop on financing options for advanced energy projects. He recognized Mayor Madeline Rogero for the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent Climate Action Champion designation by the Obama administration. Knoxville received the award for its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The city already has reduced emissions from municipal operations by 13 percent and emissions from the community by 7.75 percent, Rogero said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on our way, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still more to do.â&#x20AC;? Of the 16 communities chosen as the first round of Climate Action Champions, only two were from the Southeast: Knoxville and

Broward County, Fla. She hopes other communities in the Southeast will compete, and win, in the future. Rogero credited Office of Sustainability director Erin Gill with seeing the big picture while working on the details. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear from us about that financial assistance,â&#x20AC;? she said to Knobloch before his keynote address on financing opportunities available through DOE. Innovative ventures are important because they affect the way we live and work, he said. He listed assets that make the area attractive to energy businesses. Innovative businesses, like Local Motors, which recently produced a 3-D printed car, capture the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention. Partnerships between UT and Oak Ridge National Lab, like the Cherokee Farm Innovation Campus and the Joint Institute for Advanced Materials, offer top-notch talent and research capabilities. DOE has a 98 percent success rate at helping innovative technology into the marketplace and currently has $30 billion in loan contracts. DOE financed the first five photovoltaic projects in the U.S., and an additional 17 have commenced since then with no public funding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way it should work. We have to show the

private sector that projects are viable.â&#x20AC;? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no single energy solution, he said, but the country needs a portfolio of energy options. Loan officer Patrick Thomas said DOE loan programs are available for clean-energy projects and manufacturers of advanced technology vehicles and components. Many projects reach the demonstration scale but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move forward without financing, which is difficult to obtain for unproven technology. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re willing and able to take that risk,â&#x20AC;? he said. Knobloch and Thomas spoke at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Opportunities in Energy: Public/Private Financing Options to Deploy Advanced Energy and Manufacturing,â&#x20AC;? a workshop presented by UT, DOE, Cherokee Farm and Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC). Local innovators Jay Rogers of Local Motors and Jay Speight of Cathedral Innovation Group gave brief presentations on their companies and the challenges facing innovative manufacturing, and other local business representatives described successful energy and technology projects. TAEBC was launched this year to foster the growth of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advanced energy technologies, companies and jobs.

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A-6 â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 17, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ BEARDEN Shopper news

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The Elevate Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir takes the stage singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Noelâ&#x20AC;? and charming the nearly 2,000-member audience. udience.

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Let There Be Lightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

By y Nancy Anderson

Firstt Baptist B ti t Concord C d off fered an early Christmas present to the community with nearly 400 singers on stage at one time. The Let There Be Light performance featured the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adult choir, praise team and praise band along with a full orchestra of brass, strings and percussion, the Fusion Student Choir and Elevate Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge event featuring pretty much all of our music talent. Let There Be Light is a wonderful event for the community to get to know our church and kick Guest soloist Chris Blue brings soulful gospel music to the prooff the Christmas season gram, singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go Tell It on the Mountain.â&#x20AC;? with holiday favorites and heartfelt worship for the true reason of the season,â&#x20AC;? said communications director Tiffany Roy. Soloist Chris Blue, a gospel recording artist from Chattanooga, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being in the show means everything to me. Anytime you have the opportunity to sing or speak about Christ and the birth, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just an amazing thing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not to mention that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here at First Baptist Concord. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a wonderful Christmas event, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m humbled that they invited me to sing. I hope everyone is moved.â&#x20AC;? A slide show depicting the story of Jesus in brilliant lighting They were. plays on Jumbovision screens throughout the program.

Christmas Community Day at First Farragut First Farragut United Methodist Church hosted its seventh annual Christmas Community Day for neighbors in need with 97 families (372 individuals) enjoying a hot meal and the activities that followed. Guests visited several centers where they could select gently used childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing, books and gifts. They also took home a gift bag of groceries and family necessities. Children had the opportunity to take photos with Mr.

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â&#x2013; Annual Clayton Holiday Concert presented by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Info/tickets: 521-2337. â&#x2013; Brunch with Santa for ages toddler through 12 years old, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, Christ UMC gym, 7535 Maynardville Highway. $5 per person or $20 for family of five. Info: 922-1412.

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â&#x2013; Christmas in Old Appalachia through Wednesday, Dec. 24, at the Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Highway. Info/schedule of events: 494-7680 or www. museumofappalachia.org.

â&#x2013; Christmas Lantern Express Trains will run Fridays through Sundays through Sunday, Dec. 21. Reservations now available. Features holiday treats, storytime with celebrity readers, and a visit with Santa. Info/schedule/reservations: www.ThreeRiversRambler.com.

â&#x2013; Christmas trees for sale by Boy Scout Troop 50 in front of Beaver Ridge UMC, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway.

UMC to â&#x20AC;&#x153;make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors and each other as we invite, accept, counsel, serve and share the love of Christ.â&#x20AC;? Christmas Community Day is made possible by a significant gift from the Rita Hommel Endowment Fund. Other donors and supporters include Rusty Wallace Honda, the Chuck Shilling FISH Grant, Publix, Family Dollar, and inkind donations from Family Brands, Ingles, Food City and Kroger.

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

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and Mrs. Santa and enjoy craft activities. A Prayer Center was open throughout the event. Christmas Community Day involved 193 volunteers including members of the congregation, the community and several Boy and Girl Scout Troops. Community volunteers, including members of the Spanish Club from Farragut High School, assisted in Spanish translation for Hispanic guests. The event fulfills the vision of First Farragut

â&#x2013; Historic Cherokee Caverns, 8524 Oak Ridge Highway, will be open for public tours 5:30-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 19-21, during â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas in the Cave.â&#x20AC;? Admission: $8, ages 5 and up. Photos with Santa: $10. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. Includes music, vendors, kids activities. Info: www.cherokeecaverns.com.

â&#x2013; Holidays on Ice presented by Home Federal Bank through Sunday, Jan. 4, on Market Square. Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday through Dec. 18; 1-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Dec. 19-Jan. 4; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1-9 p.m. Sundays. Info: www. knoxvillesholidaysonice.com. â&#x2013; Pictures with Santa Claus at Cool Sports, 110 S. Watt Road. Schedule: 8-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 3:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec 20. Photos by No Dud Photography. Info: 218-4500 or www. coolsportstn.com. â&#x2013; Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Workshop Ice Show, 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, Cool Sports, 110 S. Watt Road. Info/tickets: 218-4500 or www. coolsportstn.com. â&#x2013; Share Your Sweater holiday contest is being hosted by Goodwill Industries-Knoxville. To enter for a chance to win a $50 Goodwill shopping spree, purchase a Christmas sweater at any Goodwill store and submit a photo of the sweater with info naming the store where purchased by Sunday, Dec. 28, by posting to: Goodwill Industries-Knoxville Facebook Page, facebook.com/gwiktn; Twitter and tag @GWIKTN; on Instagram and tag @goodwillknoxville; or emailing to marketing@gwiktn.org. Info: www.gwiktn. org/events. â&#x2013; Living Nativity, 6-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22-23, Christ UMC, 7535 Maynardville Highway. Everyone welcome.

faith

BEARDEN Shopper news • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • A-7

Serving is a privilege at Angelic Ministries

The third component is a homeless ministry that provides a meal and a church service every Saturday. Church groups from several denominations sign up to provide food, worship music or a Christian message, or all three, to a group that ranges from 85 to 100. The recently-renovated worship space is an inviting spot with tables, booths and a stage. The community volunteers generously, so the schedule is full through March. It’s a ministry of relationship rather than handouts. Volunteers get to know the clients, and walk and pray with them during their visits, Earl says. “We’ve all been there, at some time or place in life, so we can be empathetic. They need to be encouraged.”

By Wendy Smith On the first of Angelic Ministries’ two-day Christmas Mall, the Harper family was ready to wrap gifts. Seven siblings were on standby with scissors and bows. The eighth, a freshman in college, was disappointed to miss her family’s Christmas tradition because of finals. “We get blessed more than we ever bless anyone,” says mom Angie Harper. This sentiment is echoed by Angelic Ministries’ founder Betsy Frazier, executive director Tony Earl and Latin minister Juanita Winters, who all agree that it’s a privilege to serve families in crisis. “It’s an honor to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” says Winters. The Christmas Mall is an especially festive time to serve. The entrance to the ministry, located in the former Merita Bread building at 1218 N. Central Street, is lined with Christmas trees that shoppers can take home. A wall of wreaths, many of them created by Frazier, greets shoppers as they enter the warehouse. Inside, there are new toys and decorative items that have been set aside throughout the year for the event. Forty families were invited to shop at this year’s Christmas Mall. They were chosen by volunteers who know their situations, Earl says. He was a pastor before he began directing the work at Angelic Ministries. “I’ve learned more here in eight years than in 20 years of pastoring.” There are three primary components to the organization’s work. One is helping families in crisis with basic needs like clothes, shoes, hygiene items and small appliances. The warehouse opens its doors to the first 25 who show up on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

FAITH NOTES ■ All Souls Church will host a 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service Dec. 24 in the Market Square Pavilion. It will be canceled if inclement weather.

The Harper children – Avery, Daniel, Susanna, Rebekah, Luke, Mary and Lydia (front) – work at Angel Ministries’ ■ Christmas Mall every year.

Angelic Ministries founder Betsy Frazier makes jewelry for the Christmas Mall in her craft room. Photo by Wendy Smith

Some arrive at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. with the hope of getting in at 8 a.m., he says. With a referral, clients can also receive items to establish a home, like furniture, linens and a box of kitchen items – one time. The items are free, but clients can only come three times, and visits must be 90 days apart.

“We can’t help anyone with everything, but we can help everyone with something,” Earl explains. When clients arrive, volunteers find their paperwork. Separate Bible studies for men and women are offered while they wait. “I don’t feel like we’re doing good unless we tell them why we’re doing it,” he says.

Another component of the ministry is rehabilitation. Men, who are typically coming out of prison or off the streets, can participate in a year-long program of

mentoring while working in the warehouse. They punch a clock to earn angel bucks, which can be used to pay rent and utilities at group homes.

Beaver Ridge UMC, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway, will offer a “Service of Remembrance And Hope” for those who have experienced a recent death, sickness or other painful loss 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the chapel. Info: 690-1060 or www.beaverridgeumc.com.

■ First Lutheran Church, 1207 N. Broadway, will host these services: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24; Christmas Day service, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 25; Worship service, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28; New Year’s Eve service, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. Communion at all services. The public is invited.

A champagne announcement Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth …. (Luke 1: 11-14 NRSV) Odd, isn’t it, how frequently in the Bible a bit of news is delivered to an unsuspecting person by an angel? I notice how the recipient of said visitation is always frightened and how angels are often forced to begin their message with “Fear not.” Zechariah was in the sanctuary, offering incense. It was an honor to do so, a privilege bestowed on a priest by the drawing of lots. An angel came to Zecha-

riah, starting the conversation with “Do not be afraid.” Yeah, right. Angels were impressive, apparently, and scary. The truth is, one never knows what an angel is going to ask one to do! Zechariah’s angel gave him good news: “Your wife will give you a son. You will have joy ….” But Zechariah knew that his Elizabeth was past the age of childbearing, so he said (essentially), “Pffft!” (Just so you know, it is

Cross Currents

Lynn Pitts unwise to argue with an angel!) The angel took offense, retaliating with, essentially, “For that bit of disbelief and disrespect, you will be unable to speak until the child is born.” As I consider all this, I wonder how joy is different from happiness. Webster differentiates thusly: happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. Joy is great pleasure and delight. Sort of like the difference between water and champagne.

If God loves me, why ...? One of the most irrational thoughts we ever entertain is that maybe God just doesn’t love us. Usually, y, such thinking is brought htt on by acute bouts of sufffering, pain or heartache. e. While the issue of suffering g is complex, I believe the following illustration may help to secure our faith during difficult times. The story is told of an old farmer who won an allexpense-paid trip to New York City. On the day of his departure, a huge stretch limousine came to pick him up at his country home. This old farmer had never even seen a limo before, let alone ridden in one, and he’d never flown in an airplane before. Finally he arrived at an elegant hotel where a

Steve Higginbotham bellhop took his luggage and began leading him to his room. As they went through a set of double doors, the bellhop noticed the farmer looked dissatisfied and asked if there was a problem. The farmer said, “Though I shouldn’t complain, I just imagined that my room would be larger than this, and I didn’t think I’d have to share it with two other people (there were two people in the room when they entered). The bellhop looked at the old

farmer and said, “Sir, your room is 65 stories up. This is just the elevator that takes us there.” The old farmer made the same mistake that many of us make: he confused his journey with his destination! Friends, God never promised heaven on earth. He promised heaven after earth. Don’t ever forget that we are pilgrims, traveling through this life on a journey to heaven. So while you’re still on earth and you’re called upon to suffer, don’t question God’s love for you. Traveling is often inconvenient and difficult. We’ll face hardship while we’re traveling, but oh, won’t the journey be worthwhile once we finally arrive at our destination? Give it some thought.

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

Rebecca Bell Jenkins Attorney at Law Powell 938-5114 West Knoxville 691-2211

kids

A-8 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

Gillian Line and Nicholas Davis get some guidance on using hand tools from community volunteer Scott Qualls.

Finn Burgin, Cooper Lusby, Trevor Patten, Kaitlyn Harmon, Matthew Borden and Lauryn Butler make sure they have all the parts for a Huff y Green Machine.

Kids help kids on their own dime and time To enhance your faith in humanity, check out what seventh graders at West Valley Middle School are doing for other kids this Christmas. In their free time, students worked odd jobs for family, friends and neighbors and earned money to Calley Doyle, Katherine Chen, John Burnette, Shane McWil- purchase toys to donate to liams and Kevin Southwood refer to the diagram on the in- Mission of Hope. structions of a Green Machine Jr. Trevor Patten earned

groups. Community volunteers were on hand in case the students had questions Sara assembly. Retired Barrett about A.L. Lotts Elementary School teacher Wendy Ginn was amazed by the students’ efforts. $100 to purchase toys by “Their leadership skills tearing down drywall and are in there, they just need ripping out carpet in his a catalyst like this to bring stepdad’s office. Matthew them forward,” said Ginn of Borden earned $80 by the event. “This is one time mowing lawns. when every child can be a But this was not a typi- hero. They may not excel cal toy drive or fundraiser. in the classroom, but here, The students assembled they can be a winner.” the items by hand in small Mission of Hope picks

up the toys and delivers them to children in rural Appalachia. Executive Director Emmette Thompson stopped by the workshop to personally thank the kids. “What you’re doing is an incredible act of love,” said Thompson. “A ‘thank you’ will never be enough. We will serve over 18,000 students this year, and this is such a blessing for us,” he said. “Every kid that behaves needs a Santa Claus,” said student and toy assembler Lauryn Butler. “We can be their Santa.”

Readying the wreaths Sequoyah Elementary fifth grade teacher Edward Pierce ladles some of his homemade wassail into a cup. “It’s been simmering in my classroom since 6:45 a.m.,” said Pierce. Various refreshments were available for teachers to enjoy, but the wassail was the most aromatic. Assembling the Rise and Shine Kitchen are Julia Ozdych, Alex Smith, Danielle Hobeika, Taylor Cross and Emily Mason. Photos by S. Barrett

Third grade teachers Krissie Wiggins and Laura Philips discuss the best way to attach fresh greenery to a wire wreath base.

■

Bearden High School rugby team members are: Tommy Lane, Kacey Joyner, Ben Schwartz, Tre DeJournett, Blake Johnson, Demetrius Robinson, Logan Moody, Matt Bozich, Connor Whitaker, Will Barton, Riley Archer, Luke Bidner, Ethan Shope, Jack Richards, Jong Park and John Allen McCarrell. Photo submitted

Dogs earn bronze at state Bearden High School boys rugby finished third in the Tennessee High School Olympic Rugby Championship Tournament in Murfreesboro with a decisive 49-0 victory over PCA of Memphis. The bronze finish marks the second time in as many years that the Bulldogs have placed in the statewide event having also finished third in 2013. Olympic Rugby is the abbreviated version of rugby football played with only seven players but on the same field and with the same rules as the traditional 15-player version. Sevens Rugby, as it is informally known, is an Olympic sport that will make its debut in the 2016 Summer Olympics. The state tournament

consisted of eight teams advancing from conference events across Tennessee. Bearden advanced to the championship event as a result of a second place finish in the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament in November along with South-Doyle and McMinn County high schools. Ravenwood, Seigel and Riverdale from Middle Tennessee and Soulsville Charter School and Power Center Academy from Memphis rounded out the field. The Bulldogs finished 2-1 in preliminary play with victories over Riverdale and Soulsville and a loss to Ravenwood. Advancing to the semi-final round, Bearden squared off against a familiar rival – South-Doyle. In what

was the most competitive and entertaining match of the day, the Cherokees upended the Dogs 17-10. The loss sent Bearden to the Bronze Medal game where the team handily defeated PCA for the hardware and repeat as the state bronze medalist. South-Doyle defeated Ravenwood to claim the 2014 state championship. Seniors Ben Schwartz, Connor Whitaker and Demetrius Robinson, along with juniors Tommy Lane and Riley Archer, had excellent tournament performances to lead the Bulldogs. Info: www.beardenrugby.org/. Note: Thanks to the parents who contributed to this report.

Bearden High athletes commit to college

Several Bearden High School seniors committed this month to play college sports. Hayden Burns will join the swim team at UT. He started sw imming competitively six years ago and enjoys the 500yard freeBurns style most. While at UT, Hayden plans to study pre-med and move into the forensic program to become a medical examiner. Carson Kirby will run cross-country at Milligan College. This is his third year c omp e t i ng in the sport, and he says his favorite thing Kirby about it is the “community of people. They’re so fun to be around.” Carson plans to study engineering or nursing and looks forward to being on Milligan’s “beautiful campus.”

Hunter Lewis will also run crosscountry and track at Milligan College. He has been active in the sport since the fifth grade. “I like Lewis cross-country because you get out of it as much as you put in,” said Hunter. He chose Milligan because of its team atmosphere, community and coaches. Carrie McGinnis will play volleyball at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., while earning a degree in biology. She then plans to attend medical school to be an anesthesiologist. “I enjoy volleyball because it is a team sport,” said Carrie. “You need all six players willMcGinnis ing to do whatever it takes to win.” She has competed in the sport since the fifth grade. Ashley Seltzer will play soccer for Marshall Univer-

sity in Huntington, W.Va. “I love the team, I love the campus … it just feels right,” said Ashley. Scoring and the sense of accomplishment it gives her are her favorite parts of the game. Ashley Seltzer hasn’t decided on a major yet, but she hopes to do something related to business or animals after college.

WEST HILLS ELEMENTARY ■ Link your Food City ValuCard, Kroger Plus Card and Target Red Card to West Hills Elementary and help raise money for the school. The school also participates in the General Mills “BoxTops for Education” program and the Campbell’s “Labels for Education” program. Clip out the Box Tops and Labels for Education and drop them off at the school or mail to: West Hills Elementary, 409 Vanosdale Road, Knoxville, TN 37909.

BEARDEN Shopper news • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • A-9

Turkey Creek helps Mission of Hope

business

By Sara Barrett West Knoxville retailers and their customers helped distant neighbors in a big way this year. A check for $8,548.47 was presented to Mission of Hope’s executive director Emmette Thompson on behalf of the businesses and patrons of the Pinnacle at Turkey Creek. This is an increase of more than $2,000 from last year’s collection. Folks donated money during the Lights Up! tree lighting ceremony held Nov. 21, which coincided with the Mission of Hope’s holiday fundraising kickoff. Pinnacle marketing manager Kiley Fleenor said the nonprofit’s big blue barrels have also been available at Turkey Creek businesses for donations of toys and clothing. “Most of the shoppers here are lucky enough to have a bright Christmas,” said Fleenor. “It’s nice to stop and think of those less

Pinnacle at Turkey Creek general manager Darryl Whitehead and marketing manager Kiley Fleenor talk to Mission of Hope’s executive director, Emmette Thompson, and his wife, Valarie, at the check presentation. Photo by S. Barrett fortunate during the holiday season.” Mission of Hope is a year-round Christian ministry delivering clothing, toys, food and school supplies to rural Appalachian

families. Thompson said toys and clothing are always needed, but right now there is a shortage of winter coats. “Because of the warm weather, coat sales are in the tank, so we’re experi-

encing a shortage of them as well,” he said. One generous patron donated $4,000 at this year’s event, which should buy a coat or two. Info: www.missionofhope.org.

By Anne Hart

Dame game a few weeks later, I realized I couldn’t read the plays on my wrist band. “We forget just how fragile a not-yetfully-developed brain is when we are watching young people play Eric Ainge this sport. We need to be aware that football is a collision sport; basketball is a contact sport.” Despite his injuries, Ainge said, “I wouldn’t trade my four years at UT for anything.” Ainge said he thinks UT coach Butch Jones “is doing a great job. Nothing gets by him. He has a group of men working tirelessly with him. I think the future looks bright.” Now retired from football, Ainge lives in Knoxville and works in corporate sales for Cellular Sales Inc. and does motivational speaking.

Caden Robinson waits for his chance to visit with Santa.

Provision welcomes families The Provision Center for Proton Therapy hosted a family holiday gathering Dec. 11. In the center’s spacious yet cozy lobby area, complete with fireplace and

Ainge talks traumatic football injuries Parents of football players aren’t the only ones worried about concussions and other brain injuries sustained on the playing field. Former UT football standout and New York Jets quarterback Eric Ainge shares their fears. Ainge told members of the Rotary Club of Bearden last week that the numerous concussions he suffered playing football have made him the subject of a current medical study to determine the effects of concussions and head trauma on the brain. Ainge said he suffered a total of six concussions while playing football, the first at age 11. During a UT game in 2005, he was thrown headfirst into the goalpost. “I took two weeks off,” he told the group, “But I don’t remember the next five or six weeks because of that concussion.” Ainge said he knew at the time how severe the damage was. “During the Notre

Bobbie Wyatt of Provision Health Partners gives Santa her Christmas wish list.

Christmas tree, guests were treated to refreshments and performances by local choirs. Santa himself even paid a visit. – Shannon Carey

Ringing bells for the Red Kettle Home Federal Bank employees Christa Bibbs and Nissa Williams volunteer for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign on Market Square. The Red Kettle campaign helps provide Christmas dinners, clothing, toys and basic necessities for those in need, and the bank’s volunteers again this year committed to staffing this location at lunchtime Dec. 8-23. Info: www.homefederalbanktn.com. Photo submitted

Halls High School Madrigals Kristin Smith and Mariah Hensley sing songs of the season at Provision. Photo by S. Carey

Reputation. Expertise. Commitment.

Van Gogh comes to Fountain City along with reflections on other artists. “Vince,” as Washburn called him, was fired from his job and flunked out of seminary. He was unsuccessful at love. “When ‘Trudy’ said, ‘No, no, no,’ Vince said she’ll come around,” he said. She didn’t. “He would never succeed at family life. He was grumpy and would not compromise. At 27 he was a failure, and he had only 10 more years to live.” Although his works are now the most coveted and expensive in the art world, Washburn said, Vince never achieved financial success. He painted some 900 canvases and another 1,100 charcoals but sold only one during his lifetime. Upon his death, his mother tossed much of his work into the trash. Yet in 1990, one work sold for $83 million, another for $50 million. This is a wonderful presentation and Dr. Washburn is available to speak to other groups. His contact info is: 865-691-0080 or yulan@UTK.edu.

Our Physicians (L-R): Douglas Marlow, MD; J. Stephen Alley, MD; Sunil John, MD; Michael Bernard, MD; Robert Thompson II, MD; Saeed Etezadi, MD; Jeffrey Swilley, MD

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By Sandra Clark For businesspeople who often spend the workday zipping from crisis to crisis, from decision to decision, last week’s N o r t h Dr. Washburn K n o x ville Rotary Club meeting brought respite. Dr. Yulan Washburn, UT professor emeritus in modern foreign languages and literature, raised questions of eternity, suffering and failure, centered on the life of Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. W a s h b u r n brought a multimedia presentation sprinkled with artwork by van Gogh on a screen and, at one point, the music of Don McLean, “Starry, Starry Night.” “You may know this as ‘American Pie,’ ” he joked. “McLean said the painting wrote the song.” Washburn is compiling a website called Portraits of Eternity, which will include his research on van Gogh

A-10 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

Atilla the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Ian McKellen plays the wizard Gandalf in “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) react to an unexpected turn of events in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.”

Sound familiar? Sequels and remakes dominate By Betsy Pickle This week is the calm before the storm, with only three major films opening before next week’s Christmas deluge, and all of them with a familiar lineage. The weekend starts today with the official opening of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” Director Peter Jackson finally finishes the Middle-earth sojourn he started with “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” with the final entry in his “Hobbit” trilogy, based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide whether to unite or be destroyed in this epic fantasy-adventure. Martin Freeman returns as the central character, Bilbo Baggins, with a cast that includes Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bil-

ly Connolly, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving and Orlando Bloom. Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) star in “Annie,” the latest incarnation of the story about the little orphan who finds an unlikely home. This time, Annie is a foster kid living with a mean foster mom (Cameron Diaz) while waiting for her parents to return. A business tycoon (Foxx) with ambitions to become New York’s mayor takes Annie in to improve his image, but his plan doesn’t count on Annie’s own independence and resilience. The movie also stars Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and David Zayas. Will Gluck co-wrote the script and directed.

This week’s other film closes a couple of chapters. “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” is the final film for both Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney and is presumably the last entry in the “Night at the Museum” franchise. This time, the museum that comes alive after hours is seeing some strange things happening. The Tablet whose magic allows the past to live again is dying, and to find out how to save it, Larry (Ben Stiller) must travel with his son and his unlikely pals to the British Museum in London. Themes of father-son bonding and moving on come with the comedy this time. Shawn Levy directs a cast that also includes Owen Wilson, Dan Stevens, Ben Kingsley, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Rebel Wilson and Skyler Gisondo. Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis) and Stacks (Jamie Foxx) take Sandy for a walk in “Annie.”

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BEARDEN Shopper news • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • A-11

Holiday fun with the KSO

Your Knoxville Symphoh t h b ny O Orchestra has been very busy lately.

THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 21

Santa Claus and Maestro Lucas Richman work the crowd in the KSO’s Clayton Holiday Concerts.

■ “A Christmas Carol,” Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage, UT campus. Info/tickets/ performances: 974-5161 or clarencebrowntheatre.com/.

THROUGH SATURDAY, JAN. 3

Carol Shane

By the time you read this, the KSO will have finished up two weekends of performances of “The Nutcracker” in collaboration with the Appalachian Ballet Company, one in Knoxville at the Civic Auditorium and the other in Maryville at the Clayton Center for the Arts. Also, string quartets from the orchestra have visited North City and Rogers Creek elementary schools in Athens, Tenn., and Cedar Bluff and Dogwood elementary schools here in town. And there have been holiday concerts at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate and First Baptist Church in Dandridge. Many seasonal favorites were performed, including Leroy Anderson’s popular “Sleigh Ride.” Principal trumpeter Phillip Chase Hawkins has played it countless times. And boy can he make that horse “neeeeeiiiiggghh” at the end! Here’s why: Seems that Phillip once played the piece in Kentucky – where they know how horses sound – and was taken down a peg by an audience member for his unrealistic whinny. When’s the last time you were told that your horse impression wasn’t very good? Those folks up there in Bluegrass Country are mighty particular. Chase did some woodshedding, and now his neigh is wellnigh perfect.

■ The Knoxville Watercolor Society exhibit at the Rose Center, 442 W. Second North St., Morristown. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Thursday until 7:30 p.m. Info: www.knxvillewatercolorsociety.com.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, DEC. 18-20 ■ Modern Dance Primitive Light 2014 presented by Circle Modern Dance, Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave. Performances: 8 p.m. Thursday; 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reception follows the 9 p.m. Friday show. Bring pillows as seating is limited. Tickets: www.circlemoderndance.com or www.Knoxtix.com.

FRIDAY, DEC. 19 ■ Merry Merry! Santa’s on his way, 10:15 a.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. Info: 689-2681. ■ Tour de Lights bike ride, 7 p.m., Market Square. Helmets and headlights required; all ages and skill levels welcome. Info: www.knoxtrans.org or 215-6100.

And you can hear it starting this Friday, when the KSO will present its Clayton Holiday Concerts at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. It’s Maestro Lucas Richman’s last time on the podium during the holiday season here. “It has been my honor to be part of this beloved Knoxville tradition for the 12 years in which I have served as music director for the Knoxville Symphony,” he says. “As this will be the last time I’ll be leading the festivities in this capacity, we’ve made sure to include several selections that have become an important and meaningful part of this annual program, including Leroy Anderson’s ‘Christmas Festival Overture,’ my own ‘Hanukkah Festival Overture’ and our annual Christ-

mas sing-along.” Also joining in the fun are the Knoxville Choral Society, Go! Contemporary Dance Works, the Webb School Madrigal Singers, the Church Street United Methodist Treble Choir, the University of Tennessee Herald Trumpets and Santa Claus. As for the man in the red suit – well, I’ve spoken with a close pal of his. Baritone Kevin Richard Doherty will be taking part in this year’s KSO Holiday Concerts for the second time, and he has a lot to say about his friend, everyone’s favorite Jolly Old Elf. “Santa and I are old, old friends and I am thrilled to be working with him once again on the KSO Clayton Holiday Concerts,” says Doherty. “Santa’s a great

guy. Always laughing and telling jokes. He’s incredibly humble – you’d think that kind of celebrity would let the fame get to his head. But he’s just an ordinary guy. “It’s a blast to be working with the Knoxville Symphony,” he continues, “and I’m also honored to be a part of Lucas’ final Holiday Concert. Knoxville is losing a great conductor and a great guy. But I’m excited for him as he moves on to new things!” Doherty’s own pedigree includes performances with Knoxville, Asheville and Shreveport operas. He’s appeared with the KSO, the Symphony of the Mountains and Rapides Symphony Orchestra in Alexandria, La. He’s currently the host and producer of the Early Morning Concert, Saturdays and

SUNDAY, DEC. 21 ■ Winter Solstice Celebration, 7-9 p.m., Strawbale Lodge, Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, 1936 Liberty Hill Road, Washburn. Led by Marcus Keyes. Info: Mitzi, 497-3603 or community@narrowridge.org.

Sundays on WUOT. So bundle up the kids and get on down to the Civic Auditorium this weekend for the biggest and best holiday concert in town. And this year it’s “An Olde English Christmas,” so get ready to raise a glass of wassail and sing merrilie! The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s Clayton Holiday Concerts will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday,

Dec. 19, at 3 and 7.30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Tickets range from $14 to $45, and children’s tickets start at less than $8. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 521-2337. For tickets and info, call 2913310 or visit http://www. knoxvillesymphony.com. Send story suggestions to news@shoppernewsnow.com.

Plate it

French Market Crèperie

The food at the French Market Crèperie, which now has two locations in Knoxville, is la nourriture délicieuse. The crèpes are the crème de la crème. Both the savory and sweet offerings are chef d’oeuvre. Throw in bon voyage, which I’m not ready to say yet, and you have the extent of my knowledge of French. Crèpes and I, however, go way back. I first met them in Atlanta at what became my favorite restaurant, The Magic Pan. Any trip to Atlanta included lunch or dinner at The Magic Pan.

Mystery Diner

I have eaten at both locations of French Market Crèperie – the one downtown at 526 S. Gay St. and the new one at 161 Brooklawn St. in Farragut – and they offer a touch of France in the décor and ambience. The food far outshines the setting, however. Go hungry, and plan

to eat from both the savory and the sweet menu. Don’t plan on a doggie bag, for two reasons: First, they don’t reheat well; and second, you won’t want to stop eating. For the main course savory crèpe, I chose the Goat Cheese with Walnuts in a buckwheat crèpe. The filling was delicious – creamy goat cheese with chopped walnuts mixed in and evenly folded into the crèpe. The French Fig Jam on the side topped off the flavors. The crèpe was light and soft in the middle, with just the right amount of crunchy on

the outer edges, and had a delicious flavor that made it more than just a vehicle to deliver the filling. For dessert, the choices are many. From the simple – Sugar and Butter Crèpes – to the classic – Crèpes Suzette with Grand Marnier Cognac, butter, sugar, caramel and whipped cream – to the simply sublime – Salted Caramel with imported French caramel with sea salt and butter on buckwheat. I chose the Blueberries with Lemon Curd, and they were melt-in-your-mouth

The Goat Cheese with Walnuts savory crêpes at French Market Crèperie are best when topped off with a side of fig jam. delicious. My friend, who had chosen the ham and cheese crèpe for the main course, went with Strawberries and Cream for dessert, which was good, but not lick-your-plate good like the blueberries. The restaurant has specials every day, and you can get omelets or sandwiches

on baguettes or croissants, but really, why? That’s like ordering a burger at Captain D’s. Try the crepes. You will be saying bon voyage to boring entrees in no time. That’s the end of my foray into the French language, but I’ll be back for more of the food.

Welcome Home to Blue Harbor

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A-12 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

Dr. Mary Alford: the best friend a four-legged critter ever had By Anne Hart To grateful pet owners, she’s known simply as “Dr. Mary.” To her four-legged clients, she’s known as, well, their good buddy. She’s the human who comes to their home to treat what ails them and loves them half to pieces in the process. Of the many businesses in the world, Academy Mobile Pet Clinic is likely the only one that involves a diminutive woman driving a dilapidated-looking station wagon that’s greeted at almost every stop by wagging tails and soft meows. And don’t be too quick to come to conclusions. While that station wagon garners lots of good-natured teasing, Dr. Mary Alford’s clients know the veterinarian keeps it stocked with the latest and best medical supplies available to treat their pets. Besides, most of her patients aren’t picky about her wheels, but the vet isn’t always welcome. “Some of them hate to see me come,” Dr. Alford says with a laugh. “They don’t like getting shots.” Dr. Mary Alford isn’t just an accomplished veterinarian, though. We’ll just say she’s a “renaissance woman.” More on that in a minute. A native of Chattanooga, her photo appeared in one of that town’s newspapers when she was 16 years old, stating her career goal as veterinarian. Today, Dr. Alford happily admits that as a child of the 1960s, it took her a while to get there. “I was a hippie,” she grins in explanation. “I wandered a bit.” After high school, she came to Knoxville as a UT student and got a degree

in animal husbandry, one of only three women in the department at that time. “I had such a good time working with cattle and pigs and farm animals that I didn’t get a good grip on what would happen when I got out into the world. It was very much a male-dominated profession, and there was a lack of job opportunities for women.” And so, after graduation, she worked several jobs, including as “kennel help” for veterinarians. She left Knoxville for a time and worked in the chemistry lab at a USDA station in Texas and in the virology lab at Texas A&M. Returning to UT, she got a master’s degree in animal science with a specialty in nutrition and then landed a position at the UT Memorial Research Center that would firmly set her on the path to her life’s work. That job was working with the gray collie colony. The dogs have a genetic defect: a stem cell disorder that causes them to get sick on a specific cycle. The dogs became models for bone marrow transplants, and the work done with those pups “was responsible for a revolution in human and animal medicine. They were a part of some of the most pioneering drug therapies and techniques that have become common today,” Dr. Alford says. Now even more excited about the challenges offered by veterinary medicine, she entered UT’s vet school and graduated in 1984. She worked for several veterinary practices, including that of Dr. Howard Mynatt in Halls. “I still loved working with farm animals, and although I was supposed to

Veterinarian Dr. Mary Alford spends a lot of time sitting on the floor to get close to the animals she loves. Last week she was at “puppy school” with two of her own: JuJu Bee and Jiminy Cricket. be in the office, sometimes I begged and Dr. Mynatt let me go with him to work with cows and horses and pigs.” She worked at several other veterinary practices

Rotary International Foundation By Bonny C. Millard Frank Rothermel has witnessed firsthand many of the humanitarian aid projects that the Rotary International Foundation creates and supports around the world. Rothermel, a member of the Rotary Club of Farragut, spoke to his club recently and encouraged

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Rotary Club of Farragut president Lee Mrazek and member Frank Rothermel talk after Rothermel’s presentation on the Rotary International Foundation. Photo by Bonny C. Millard tary water can lead to many health problems and can even cause death, so the children are taught to drink the clean water instead, he said. The Rotarian shared information about medical missions in Haiti and the building of 80 preschools in South Africa to get children on the education track. “Literacy is what’s go-

ing to change the world,” he said. In India, efforts are being made to teach women to sew so that they can earn a living. The foundation is transforming lives, he added. Rothermel, a past district governor for Rotary, said that helping others creates a good feeling for those who give, and he shared several ways folks can help.

Neighborhood Watch gives voice to Five Points residents

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members to continue to support the foundation. Rothermel won the Service Above Self award in 2013 and 2014. “I get to see where this money’s spent,” said Rothermel, who’s been to 60 countries. Last January, he was in India helping with Rotary International’s polio eradication program. The country was declared polio free that month. Rothermel said India’s neighbor, Pakistan, is also working hard to end polio there. The foundation has a goal of raising $1 billion by 2017, the 100th anniversary, he said. The six areas of the foundation’s focus are peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention, clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, education and growing local economies. Rothermel said that the foundation has helped fund water projects near schools in poverty-stricken areas. Drinking muddy, unsani-

News from Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC)

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Alford started her mobile house-call practice. She was a busy woman, doing what she loved. “At one time I had five jobs: the two humane societies, the emergency clinic, relief work for other vets and my own practice. Some weeks I worked 90 hours. Looking back, I don’t know how I did it.” Her mobile practice is her focus now, “because I love the independence it gives me.” And while she homedoctors dogs and cats, she has never quite gotten the love of farm animals out of her system. She still treats a few horses. There is one sad aspect to her veterinary practice. “I do a tremendous amount of home euthanasia of pets, for which clients seem very grateful. It’s pretty sad, and I cry a lot, but it’s important. I just feel everybody should be able to go to sleep in their own bed in their own house surrounded by people who love them.” Not surprisingly, it hasn’t all been about the animals for Dr. Alford. Remember that “renaissance woman” tag? She is a woman of many interests – and accomplish

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and was the veterinarian for the Knox County Humane Society for many years. She also put in some 20 years at a pet emergency clinic, focusing on surgery, a career

choice that was to end due to a hand injury. At the same time, she was also providing spay and neuter services to the Sevier County Humane Society, where she pioneered locally the new concept of spaying and neutering puppies and kittens at six to eight weeks of age. “Because of my work with the Knox County Humane Society, I got to go to a lot of conferences, and learned about this new concept that had been researched in Florida of spaying and neutering at this early age as a way of controlling overpopulation among small animals. “There was quite a public outcry when we started it, but we had learned that animals recover from anesthesia and surgery a lot more quickly than humans, and that this was in no way detrimental to them. Our goal, of course, was to spay and neuter animals before they were adopted out as a means of controlling the number of unwanted animals.” The program is now used nationwide. In the late 1980s, Dr.

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Sylvia Cook, a senior resident at The Residences at Eastport, has been a lifelong advocate of neighborhood watch programs. As she Nance grew up in Chattanooga, her parents were always involved in the neighborhood’s watch program, and Cook has volunteered at local police departments since she was a teenager. When Cook moved to KCDC’s newest premier property more than two years ago, she brought with her that passion for a neighborhood organization that would create solutions for community issues. Recently, The Residences at Eastport/Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch, which Cook led the effort in forming, held its first anniversary celebration at Dr. Lee L.

Williams Senior Complex. “I decided I’m going to step out to do the things that can be done,” Cook said. “The Neighborhood Watch works with anyone having a problem and connects them with KCDC or the Knoxville Police Department to resolve it. We’ve cleared a lot of problems in the past year.” Cook said the neighborhood watch started with just a few members from The Residences at Eastport. The group has grown and now includes members from its adjacent property for senior citizens, Dr. Lee L. Williams Senior Complex. “It’s not always easy talking to someone, especially for the seniors,” Cook said. “It’s less intimidating talking to your neighbors in the watch program.” Cook said the members who attend the neighborhood watch sessions are very dedicated. A core group of approximately eight or nine individuals attends almost every meeting. Darlene Bunch won an award

at the anniversary celebration for perfect attendance. KCDC senior asset manager Beth Bacon and a KPD representative regularly attend meetings. In addiSylvia Cook tion to discussing community issues, the group also provides neighborhood-building activities, such as computer training, exercise classes, fire safety and Social Security information. “I think we are doing a lot of good in our neighborhood, and it’s going to be even better in the coming year,” Cook said. “People have said, ‘You are our voice.’ I just try to help with the things I can and tell them where they can get help.” Being a Chattanooga native as well, I must say I’m very proud of my “home girl.”

BEARDEN Shopper news • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • A-13

Chick-fil-A president visits Concord Dan Cathy, President and CEO of Chick- l-A, was on campus for a Customer Service and Business Conference. Cathy also met with our Concord Christian School entrepreneurship class. He surprised the students by telling them that he teaches a high school boys Sunday school class weekly.

His positive perspective inspired the students. Cathy told them, “Challenges are like weight lifting, they make you stronger.” He also encouraged the students with a quote from his father, S. Truett Cathy: “Fall in love with your work and you will never have to work again.”

The Concord Christian School entrepreneurship class received a visit from Chick-fil-A president and CEO Dan Cathy. Pictured are (front) Elizabeth Thacker, Courtney Jackson, MayBeth Harris, Landon Fox, Chase Horstman; (second row) Josh Roberts, Leslie Arnold, Dan Cathy, Elizabeth Farmer; (third row) Hunter Templin, Noah Templin, Josh Martin, Josh Arnold, Bryce Kenny; (back) William Farmer, Taylor Turbyfill, Noah Hoover, Matt Snyder, Abraham Gale and Josh Malone.

Entrepreneurship and purpose

CCS Headmaster Ruston Pierce receives shirt from Markd’Life. Pictured are (front) Elizabeth Farmer, Pierce, Courtney Jackson; (second row) MayBeth Harris, Hunter Templin, Noah Collins, Brian Turbyfill, Abraham Gale; (back) Josh Malone, Bryce Kenny and Noah Hoover. High School Students in Steve Arnold’s Concord Christian School entrepreneurship class this semester were greatly impacted by the increased violence taking place in the Middle East. As the students

saw Christians in many parts of the world facing persecution because of their faith, the class chose to develop a business that would not only draw awareness to the issue, but raise much needed funds

Concord Homecoming Court

Lion’s Pride Week was Concord’s Homecoming. Students participated in Spirit Week, a high school

dance, and exciting basketball along with an alumni dinner. Pictured here are members of the 2015 Homecoming Court, including: (front) Ashlyn Tucker (junior), Homecoming Queen Shana-Kay Hughey (senior), Homecoming King Brian Turby ll; (second row) Jenna Mitchum (sophomore), Kaitlin Snipp (senior), Holly Roberts (junior); (back) Abby Collins (freshman), Matt Snyder (senior) and Dylan Brandenburg (sophomore). Not pictured is freshman Nathan Deets.

UPCOMING EVENTS ■ ■ ■ ■

Christmas holiday begins, Dec. 19 School resumes, Jan. 6 School preview and admissions event, Jan. 13 Vision update meeting, Jan. 15

for those facing the harshest persecution. Arnold indicated that the notion of young people learning how to combine business and ministry is what led to the birth of the student-led, nonpro t, Mark’dLife brand. Arnold said, “These students are learning how to make a difference in their world. The students saw a need, found a way to utilize business and social media to make a difference and just ran with it.” Mark’dLife is designed to increase awareness about the plight of persecuted Christians, and to raise funds for those facing persecution. CCS’s entrepreneurship program began in 2011 with the vision of creating job makers instead of job takers - all with a biblical worldview of business. The current class, not only wrote and presented a business

plan, designed a product and developed a website, but also established a crowd funding campaign at GoFundMe.com which raised the needed funds to launch Mark’dLife. Their rst product is a T-shirt to rally support for Christians being persecuted by ISIS in the Middle East. The shirt’s front features the Arabic letter “n,” which is used by ISIS

to mark Christian (Nazarene) homes for various forms of persecution including taxes, theft, rape and even beheading. The shirt’s back features Mark 13:13 and the Mark’dLife brand. You are invited to visit www. markdlife.com to learn more and to purchase shirts and wristbands.

CCS Lego team advances

Members of the Concord Christian School Lego Robotics Team are: Ben Thacker, Kristin Overbay, Nathon Armour, Taylor Swann, Haley Flynn, Bryce Baxter, Conner Sherrill, Jack Sherrill, Noah Goodlett, Grayson Petersen and Wilson Flynn. Not pictured is Aaron Philip. The First Lego League (FLL) is an international technology competition for elementary and middle school students. Teams design and program an autonomous robot to complete a series of missions on a playing led. This is the rst year Concord Christian School has competed in the FLL.

Two teams comprised of elementary and middle school students from CCS competed recently in the Knoxville Quali er Tournament which took place at Hardin Valley Academy. The teams competed in Robot Performance, Robot Design, Project and Core Values Presentation. Concord students were responsible to create an innovative solution to a real-world problem. To prepare for this completion, Concord teams meet twice

weekly and exposed the students to real-world engineering challenges while helping them develop critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills. Lion’s Pride won second place out of 28 teams in the project category for their innovative way of teaching the concept of slope to middle school students. Lion’s Pride also ranked high enough overall to advance to the next level of competition which is being help at Tennessee Tech in February.

A-14 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

Food City will close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed Christmas Day to allow our associates to celebrate with their families.

$ 99

Whole or Half, Food City

Spiral Sliced Ham Per Lb.

Merry 0 0 3 Holiday S

Christmas! 00 100

UP TO

With Card

IN FUEL DISCOUNTS S

POINT S

December 10 through December 30, 2014

Fresh

Fresh & Crisp

Broccoli

Celery

Bunch

Stalk

Requires additional $35.00 purchase in the same transaction. Limit one per customer per day. Receive 300 Fuel Buck Points with the purchase of any Food City Whole Semi Boneless Ham, Food City Whole or Half Spiral Sliced Ham, Food City Whole Boneless Ham or fresh or frozen whole Turkey.

88 With Card

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BUY 5 OR MORE SAVE MORE.

Selected Varieties

Pepsi Products

Limit 1 transaction per customer, per day.

Selected Varieties

Del Monte Vegetables

Must purchase 5 or more in the same transaction to receive discount. Quantities less than 5 are 3.49 each

6 Pk., 16-16.9 Oz. Btls.

CHRISTMAS SUPER MEGA SAVINGS!

14.5-15 Oz.

Mix or Match any 10 participating items and...

Customer responsible for sales tax. LIMIT 50 MEGA ITEMS PER CUSTOMER.

SUPER MEGA SAVINGS EVENT PARTICIPATING ITEM!

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EACH

Must purchase 12 in the same transaction to receive discount.

Lesser quantities are .80 each

instantly at the cash register!

SAVE 5

SUPER MEGA SAVINGS EVENT PARTICIPATING ITEM!

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Granulated

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Food Club Cream Cheese

Food Club Sugar

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8 Oz.

4 Lb.

5 Lb.

ValuCard Price...........1.49 SUPER MEGA SAVINGS -.50¢

ValuCard Price...........1.99 SUPER MEGA SAVINGS -.50¢

YOUR FINAL PRICE...

¢ With Card

SUPER MEGA SAVINGS EVENT PARTICIPATING ITEM! 1 Lb. Qtrs.

ValuCard Price...........2.99 SUPER MEGA SAVINGS -.50¢ YOUR FINAL PRICE...

• Items and Prices are specifically intended to apply locally where issue originates. No sales to dealers or competitors. Quantity rights reserved. 2014 K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. Food City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

49 With Card

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• KNOXVILLE, TN - N. BROADWAY, MAYNARDVILLE HWY., HARDIN VALLEY RD., KINGSTON PIKE, MIDDLEBROOK PIKE, MORRELL RD. • POWELL, TN - 3501 EMORY RD.

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SALE DATES Wed., Dec. 17, Wed., Dec. 24, 2014

December 17, 2014

HEALTH & LIFESTYLES NEWS FROM FORT SANDERS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Morristown woman turns back the clock after a decade of pain For several years, the pain in Ada Woods’ back had been getting more and more intense. “I’ve been having problems with my back since 2004,” said Woods, 71, of Morristown. “I tried (steroid) shots and everything, but it wasn’t helping it. I was getting so I couldn’t hardly walk.” Through a nurse in her general practitioner’s ofﬁce, Woods heard about the Fort Sanders Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Dr. Barrett Brown, a neurosurgeon there. Brown diagnosed Woods with spondylolisthesis, a condition in which one bone in the vertebra slides forward over the bone below it. This in turn causes a narrowing of the spinal column, pain, numbness and weakness, in one or both le gs. “My pain, it would move all over my back sometimes,” said Woods. “Dr. Brown said I had arthritis in my back, too, and he said the bones at the bottom of my spine were slipping back and forth.” The only permanent solution for spondyliothesis is to fuse – or bond – the two slipping bones together so they cannot move. Called spinal fusion surgery, this is not rare by any means, but is less common than other types of surgeries. Woods underwent surgery Oct. 23, 2014, and stayed at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center for three nights.

Dr. Barrett Brown performs a spinal fusion at the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

Using four small incisions, Brown removed the degenerative portions of bone and disks, repositioned the vertebrae and stabilized them with graft material. Everything is held together by screws placed at the level above and below the slip and con-

Back and Leg Pain Neck and Arm Pain

NEW RELIEF Fort Sanders Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Back pain, leg pain, neck pain, arm pain… the root of the problem is often a pinched spinal nerve. The good news is that now Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center’s physicians use state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques to perform spine surgery. Compared with traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgeries offer patients many advantages, including a smaller incision, less postoperative pain, faster recovery and improved outcome. Non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy and medication should always be tried ﬁrst. If those don’t help, surgery may be the best option.

Fort Sanders Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Not every one is a candidate for minimally invasive approach to spine surgery. To learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery, please call 541-2835 or visit fsregional.com/ minimallyinvasive.

Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery 8300-1208

www.fsregional.com/minimallyinvasive

Keep track with a MED MINDER card The Fort Sanders “Med Minder” card helps you keep a list of your current medications, dosages and drug allergies in one convenient place. Having this information with you can help medical professionals provide the best treatment for you in the event of an emergency. Call 865-673-FORT (3678) for a free Fort Sanders Med Minder card today!

A closer look at spondyliothesis and lumbar fusion Spondyliothesis is a condition in which the bones of the spine slip out of place. If the bones slip far enough they can compress the spinal nerves, causing pain and weakness in the back, sometimes radiating down the legs. While physical therapy and medication can help, typically only surgery can permanently correct At Barrett Brown, MD spondyliothesis. the Fort Sanders Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, spinal fusion can be performed with small incisions and a procedure called minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, or TLIF. “Minimally invasive techniques are generally less traumatic and better tolerated than open procedures,” said Dr. Barrett

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. fsregional.com • (865) 673-FORT

nected by rods on the sides. After surgery, the stability in Woods’ vertebrae has stopped the pain almost completely, although Woods said she is still working to regain the strength in her back. “Everything is doing good. I have some pain in my left leg sometimes, especially if I turn on my side,” she said. “Dr. Brown told me to walk, that would help my back more than anything. So far I’ve been walking, but I’m just weak in my back.” Woods said she’s relieved to have done the procedure at Fort Sanders and hopes to recover her strength soon. “It was good care,” she said. “I’m not using a walker or anything and no pain medicine anymore. I drove a little the other day. My back feels better, but I know it’s going to take a while. I always like to work in the yard, and I’d like to do that again this year.”

Brown, a neurosurgeon with Fort Sanders. “Minimally invasive TLIF involves a couple of small incisions, less than one inch, on either side of the spine. The patient is typically in the hospital a day or two,” said Brown. “Both our equipment and techniques are specialized. We use the Medtronic Stealth Surgical Navigation System, with a reference frame we can dock on the spine,” said Brown. The navigation system lets the surgeon track the surgical instruments in relation to the patient’s anatomy in real-time, allowing the surgeon to decompress the nerves, place screws and interbody graft through the small incisions. “The main goal is to improve leg symptoms so patients can return to their previous lifestyle,” said Brown. For more information about the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Fort Sanders Regional, call 865-541-2835.

B-2 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • Shopper news

Nancy Ackerman shows off the wall display commemorating her trip to Thompson-Boling Arena. Photo by Betsy Pickle

Former PE teacher scores

Nancy Ackerman and Lori Zepeda enjoy watching the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team play. Photo submitted

when bucket-list wish comes true By Betsy Pickle Nancy Ackerman has checked an item off her bucket list that she never expected to experience. Ackerman, who lives at Morning Pointe of Lenoir City, had – like other residents – made a bucket list at the behest of Lori Zepeda,

the assisted-living facility’s life-enrichment director. One of Ackerman’s dreams was to attend a University of Tennessee women’s basketball game. “I’m really new at being a fan,” she admits, but she had started following the team by listening to games

on the radio. Ackerman didn’t really expect Zepeda to get her to a game. She’s confined to a wheelchair, and she thought it would be too much of a hassle and an expense. “I was thrilled when she said, ‘Save Friday night.

In search of a home for the holidays

Carmela is a sweet 8-year-old senior female beagle mix in need of a friend. She is available for adoption at Young-Williams Animal Center’s 6400 Kingston Pike location.

Comet is a 5-year-old female American rabbit. She can be adopted from Young-Williams’ 3201 Division St. location. Both animals have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated

Shopper Ve n t s enews

Send items to news@ShopperNewsNow.com

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 Chanukah Storytime with Laurie Fisher, 11:15 a.m., Cedar Bluff Branch Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive. Info: 470-7033. International Folk Dancing, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road. Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers. Holiday potluck supper, 6:30 p.m. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724 or www. oakridgefolkdancers.org.

and microchipped. Info: 215-6599 or www.youngwilliams.org. Finnick is a 2-year-old male domestic short hair mix, and

Wear something orange.’ “I guessed what it was.” On a wall of her apartment, Ackerman has created a shrine to her big night with autographed posters and tickets from the game. She also received a T-shirt and shaker. She beams as she recalls the recent excursion. Jenny Brown of UT’s Athletic Department, along with Morning Pointe executive director Patrick Finn, met her and Zepeda at Thompson-Boling Arena and gave them the royal treatment. “Everyone was helping us park the bus and get in where we could have a wheelchair,” says Ackerman, who ended up on the floor, courtside, near a goal. The crowning moment came when UT beat Pennsylvania 97-52. Growing up in New Jersey, Nancy Ackerman enjoyed being active, but she didn’t play sports. “We didn’t have that,” says Ackerman, who graduated from high school in 1948. “Women’s basketball is relatively new. Things were totally different. You

p.m., Maryville AAA Office, 715 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway. Cost: $40 members; $50 nonmembers. Must preregister. Info/to register: Kate, 862-9254, or Don, 862-9250.

MONDAY, DEC. 22 Holly Jolly at the Library, 6 p.m., Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road. Info: 588-8813. Merry Merry! Santa’s on his way, 6 p.m., Sequoyah Branch Library, 1140 Southgate Road. Info: 525-1541. Tennessee Shines: Red Shoes & Rosin and poet Dawn Coppock, 7 p.m., Knoxville Visitor Center, 301 S. Gay St. Tickets: $10, free for students with valid ID and children ages 14 and under. Info/tickets: WDVX.com.

couldn’t run full court. You could only run within the half court you were in. And girls didn’t have teams.” After graduating from Trenton State College, Ackerman became a physical education teacher. Seven years in, she decided to change professions. She went to Boston University and became a physical therapist, later teaching the subject at the University of Pennsylvania for five years. She was offered a job in Chicago as a consultant in physical therapy. “Turned out it was broader than that,” she says of the position at the national Easter Seals headquarters. She stayed for 10 years. “After that, I tended to do two- and three-year grants, all in the field of health,” she says. Ackerman retired in 1992, but she always stayed busy. She faithfully attended symphony concerts and theater, and she loved travel. “I’ve been to Holland a couple of times, Mexico many times, Ireland, Alaska.”

She collected antique furniture for her high-rise condo on Lake Michigan, and she painted. She also visited East Tennessee frequently. Her brother and sister-in-law live in Lenoir City, and her sister lives in Maryville. “My family has lived here a long time,” she says. “I’ve been here every Christmas for years; I missed one because of the weather.” There finally came a point when she could no longer live on her own in Chicago. “I fell so many times, my brother said, ‘I’m not coming up here anymore.’” She moved to Knoxville, first doing rehab at Shannondale and then moving into the complex’s assisted-living facility. After her brother discovered Morning Pointe, she moved there in summer 2012. Her apartment looks out into nothing but trees. “I chose this room for the woods,” she says. “I was a camp counselor who always was the person who took people on hikes. I was the hiker. So I choose the woods whenever I can.”

MONDAY, JAN. 5 Open house and beginning Taoist Tai Chi class, 7-8:30 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 621 N. Cedar Bluff Road. Classes last three months. Info: 4827761 or www.taoist.org.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7 AAA Driver Improvement Course, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Knoxville AAA Office, 100 W. Fifth Ave. Cost: $30 members; $35 nonmembers. Must preregister. Info/to register: Kate, 862-9254, or Don, 862-9250.

THURSDAY, JAN. 8

Family Movie Night: “Frozen,” 3 p.m., Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave. Info: 215-8750.

Knoxville Choral Society auditions for all voice parts, 6-8 p.m. To schedule an audition time: 312-2440 or membership@knoxvillechoralsociety.org. Once a time is set, location and other details will be provided. Info/ audition form: www.knoxvillechoralsociety.org.

THURSDAY, DEC. 18

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31

FRIDAY, JAN. 9

AAA Driver Improvement Course, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Downtown Knoxville AAA Office, 100 W. Fifth Ave. Cost: $30 members; $35 nonmember. Must preregister. Info/to register: Kate, 862-9254, or Don, 862-9250. Chanukah Storytime with Laurie Fisher, 10:30 a.m., Sequoyah Branch Library, 1140 Southgate Road. Info: 525-1541. Knoxville Symphony League’s Elegant Dining, 11:30 a.m., hosted by Dana Lamb and Judy McLean. Tickets: $40. Location/tickets/info: www. knoxvillesymphonyleague.org under Elegant Dining. KSO Musical Storytimes for Kids, 4 p.m., Cedar Bluff Branch Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive. For pre-school aged children and their caregivers. Free and open to the public. Info: 470-7033.

New Year’s on the Square, beginning 11 p.m., Market Square. Ball drop and fireworks at midnight. Holidays on Ice skating rink open 1 p.m.-midnight. Info: www.cityofknoxville.org/Christmas. New Year’s Eve Celebration, 9 p.m., the Rose Center Council for the Arts, 442 W. Second North St., Morristown. Featuring the Al Curtis Orchestra. Tickets: $35. Info/tickets: 423-581-4330 or info@rosecenter.org.

Opening reception for a new group exhibition, 5-9 p.m., balcony gallery, Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay St. Features works by Lynn Corsi Bland, Gatlinburg; Tony Henson, Kingsport; and Terina Gillette, Beth Meadows, Emily Shane, Tony Sobota and Jennifer Willard of Knoxville. The exhibit is on display through Jan. 31. Info: 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com. Opening reception for “A Narrative of Light and Shadow” exhibit featuring the artistry of Taiwan’s female photographers, 5-9 p.m., main gallery of the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay St. The exhibit is on display through Jan. 31. Info: 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 20 AAA Driver Improvement Course, 8 a.m.-5

TUESDAY, DEC. 30

SUNDAY, JAN. 4 Winter Princess Sk8, 4-6 p.m., Cool Sports, 110 S. Watt Road. Pictures with Princess Elsa and Anna available. Info: www.coolsportstn.com, generalinfo@ coolsportstn.com, 218-4500. Open house and beginning Taoist Tai Chi class, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Classes last three months. Info: 482-7761 or www.taoist.org.

SATURDAY, JAN. 17 Diversity Day and Race Against Racism 5K, 11 a.m., YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center, 124 S. Cruze St. Sponsorship and registration info: www.ywcaknox.com. Diversity Day or the Race Against Racism info: Alicia Hudson, ahudson@ywcaknox.com.

Shopper news • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • B-3

Skytown Riot moving on up

By Marvin West

If Van Gallik and Skytown Riot hit it really big someday, a famous biographer in search of roots will show up at Farragut Presbyterian Church to ask about the children’s choir and handbells. That was the beginning of Gallik’s music career. He didn’t like the early gigs or piano lessons imposed by his parents, but compared to architectural studies at the University of Tennessee, he really loved music. He became a pro and is moving on up. Gallik and his band will open for a more famous group, 10 Years, on New Year’s Eve at The International, 940 Blackstock Ave. in Knoxville. Advance tickets are $25. They were the warm-up act in 2011 for a sellout crowd of some 1,300. “That was the biggest event Skytown Riot has been a part of, and we are really excited to get to do it again,” said Gallik. Gallik handles lead vocals and guitar. Cody Hensley plays keysboards, Jason Fruchey bass and Joey Davis drums. Skytown Riot will likely do some of its favorites, maybe “Misbehave,” “The Afterglow,” “Sensational” and “Soul or System.” The band has already had a good year. It released a six-song CD that helped

Skytown Riot is Cody Hensley, Van Gallik, Jason Fruchey and Joey Davis.

Farragut native Van Gallik fronts Skytown Riot.

land some impressive play dates. It toured Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee. It was the headline act at MusicTree Festival in Manchester and was invited back for a July 4 concert. Skytown Riot played at the Gig It Festival in Morristown this summer, and 10 Years was there. “They enjoyed our show

and were impressed with our music and our drive,” said Gallik. “That’s when they asked us to open for them again on New Year’s Eve.” Fans and a grandsoninterpreter describe their sound as anthemic arenarock. Gallik says that is close enough. He writes the music, so

far perhaps 100 songs. Others contribute. “We’ve played maybe 40.” Gallik admits he did not appreciate persuasion to do handbells. He did not like any part of piano practice. He says he was terrible at it and never got much better. “But I can still play my first recital piece.” He does credit Wayne and Jayne Gallik with good taste. He grew up listening to classic rock, “the Stones, Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd.” You might find some of that in his writing. Gallik studied orchestral music and played trumpet in school. He says he was fortunate to have some great band directors. To hear him tell it, he wasn’t too interested in math, history or sci-

ence but treasured music. He recalls an unforgettable lift from seeing Wynton Marsalis perform. Of course he did other things. He played soccer at school and for a club team, Knoxville Select. He went from the Farragut class of 2002 to UT and stayed four years. He remembers when he found a sense of direction. “I was 18, a freshman in architecture, and I was miserable. I had spent the entire year stuck in classrooms and labs.” Without a song. Van finally linked up with friends and wedged into a sold-out concert at a little club called Blue Cats. The band was O.A.R. He had never heard it or heard of it, but it lit up the room.

“I was hooked.” He continued in school but had chosen music in his heart and was whispering to himself, “I hope it somehow works out.” He and the group are believing and working at it. In their “spare” time, they generate other income. Gallik does classy commercial photography and has a moving business. Hensley installs glass and insulation. Fruchey is a security officer. Davis has a factory job. Gallik repeats a quote he heard somewhere along the way. “The trick to staying in the music business is to stay in the music business. Just refuse to quit. Writing a hit song or two would help.”

Fun at the Powell Parade

Argentine-born artist Susana Esrequis

New exhibit features works by Susana Esrequis The Casa HoLa Suite No. 112 in the Emporium Center, 100 Gay St., has selected holiday paintings by Argentine native Susana Esrequis to display through Thursday, Jan. 15. Esrequis, a painter, graphic designer and

Tickets

statistician, has received numerous awards for her artwork in her native Argentina as well as in the United States. Since living in Knoxville, she has participated in Bear Foot in the City, Hound on the Town, and has created

12 Duplexes

73 Dogs

TAXSLAYER BOWL WEST KNOX Tix, 2 club seats, 49 WEDGEWOOD HILLS AREA yrd line, upscale food 4BR, 2BA, new carpet, court, parking permit new granite countertops, next to stadium W/D Conn., $795 rent, included. $300. Call 1 yr lse. 304 Medford Rd 931-287-0727 865-237-9740

141 Dogs

CHIHUAHUA PUPS very small, 7 wks. old, S&W, $250. Call 865-932-2333. ***Web ID# 501370***

All Events / Buy/Sell 865-622-7255 www.i-dealtickets.com

Houses - Unfurnished 74

ENGLISH BULLDOG pups, AKC, champ. lines, 1 yr. guar., $1500. 865-308-7591. ***Web ID# 500077***

No Service Fees!

Powell / Claxton 3 BR, 2 BA, priv., conv., safe area, no smoke / pets. $700/mo. 865-748-3644.

ENGLISH GOLDEN Retriever pups, snow white, AKC chmp. bldln. $2450 ea. 865-300-4998. ***Web ID# 501143***

I-DEAL TICKETS

4 UT Season Men's Basketball tickets, Row 5, Sec 119, seats 1-4. $1800. 423-762-0995.

Adoption

ADOPT: Loving at home Mom & awesome Dad promise your baby the best in life. Expenses pd. Laurie & Lawrence, 1-888-449-0803.

REDUCED!

5 BDR HOUSE Belmont West, Cedar Bluff Schools $1450 Details WestKnox.com

ACTION ADS 922-4136 or 218-WEST(9378)

For Sale By Owner 40a Trucking Opportunities 106 Wooddale Rd. Fixer upper on 1 acre lot, 3 BR, 1 BA house, also dbl wide mob. home, $28,000. 924-0484

Cemetery Lots 2

LOTS, Highland Memorial, value $2200 each. Sell $1500 each. 10% discount with cash. 865-414-4615

2 SIDE X SIDE Cem. lots in Greenwood Cemetery, $1500 ea. Call 865-588-6385 Highland South, 2 Lots, Garden of Valor, Veterans section. $3000/both or $1500 ea. 406-420-6715 or 406-855-4682.

Apts - Furnished 72 WALBROOK STUDIOS 25 1-3 60 7 $140 weekly. Discount avail. Util, TV, Ph, Stv, Refrig, Basic Cable. No Lse.

DRIVERS: B.A.H. EXPRESS Calhoun, GA. Regional/Dedicate d CDL. Run SE/MW. Home Weekly-NEW PAY PACKAGE. Good miles, apid vacation, holidays. Libby. 855-3958920 x152

Dogs

141

dramatic posters for many of the annual HoLa Festivals. She has also contributed her work to nonprofit organizations. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, except for holiday closings. Info: 335-3358.

ENGLISH MASTIFF pups, AKC, chmp bldln, M & F, fawn & brindle, $700-$800. 423-329-6238 ***Web ID# 501185*** GERMAN SHORT HAIR Pups, reg. 2 left. Perfect for Christmas $500. 865-607-7890. ***Web ID# 501486*** GOLDENDOODLE PUPS, $700-$800 KyCountryDoodles.com 270-585-0217. ***Web ID# 501016*** GOLDENDOODLE PUPS, $850, S&W, Gorgeous, healthy, great temperament. 865-466-4380. ***Web ID# 498981*** GOLDEN DOODLES, CKC reg., M&F, Shots UTD, health guar. $750. Call 423-488-5337. ***Web ID# 500715*** GOLDEN Retriever Pups, AKC kid friendly, F $375, M $400. 865933-2032; 789-5648. ***Web ID# 501411***

By Sandra Clark Perfect weather marked the 2014 version of the Powell Lions Club Christmas Parade. A highlight was the float from Morning Pointe Assisted Living. The staff brought a 1924

141 Farmer’s Market 150 Exercise Equipment 208 Boats Motors

Lab. Retrievers AKC, Black Heifers & DOB 11/23, 3 yellow Bulls 2 M & 1 F, 1 choc. 865-856-3947 M $400. 865-771-2173. ***Web ID# 499615*** MINI SCHNAUZER Alfalfa $10, Grass $4 865-932-6643. pups, AKC, vet ck'd. 3 M, 2 F, born 10/23, Ready to go. WANT TO buy John Deere Lawn $400. 865-257-2955. Mower, 54" deck, low hrs. 865-938-3078 PAPTESE (Papillion & Maltese), 14 wks, all shots, 2 & 3 lbs, no shed. $400 ea. 423-442-9996 Building Materials 188 ***Web ID# 501526*** YORKIES AKC, Ch. lns, 37 BUNDLES of black quality M & F. Also taking roofing shingles, prem. dep. for Christmas., Health grade. $15 a bundle obo. Garden Bathtub Guar. 865-591-7220 w/jets, never use, $350 YORKIES, Reg., M&F. obo. 865-693-5493, Karns HAVENESE Yorkie mix, M&F. Low shed. $650-$750. 865-216-5770 Music Instruments 198 ***Web ID# 501589*** BANJO, ARIA Mas5 strg, case, Misc. Pets 142 tertone, beautiful, $400 firm. 865-689-2585

HAY FOR SALE

SALE

Guitar Amp, matched SELECT GROUPS pair, 125 watts, JBL Zebra finches $6.99 ea. 15" spkrs, $180 pr. Parakeets, $10.99 ea. 865-689-2585 Cock-a-tiels $49.99 ea Lovebirds $48.99 ea (While Supplies Last) 201 STRICTLY FEATHERS Apparel/Acc. 4689 Old Broadway CROCHET RUFFLED SCARVES, $10 ea. Assortment of colors. Call 865-776-1895.

Free Pets

ADOPT!

145

Looking for an addition to the family? Visit Young-Williams Animal Center, the official shelter for Knoxville & Knox County.

Household Furn. 204 CURIO CAB., cherry, drs/drawers, 865-689-2585

solid 2 $350.

AUSSIE-DOODLE MINI, LAB PUPPIES, AKC S & W, F1B, ready Shots & wormed. $500. FULL SZ motion bed Christmas. $900. 865- franfrady@bledsoe.net w/mattress, practically 463-2049; 865-227-3723 POP. 423-881-3347 brand new $600; Call 215-6599 ***Web ID# 500057*** Daybed, trundle BASSETT HOUND or visit incl 2 mattresses Puppies, CKC reg., LAB PUPS, AKC, choc. $150. 865-285-0102 knoxpets.org available NOW! POP. & blk, fems only, champ. $350. 606-843-6396. bldln., 1st shots, Ready ***Web ID# 500042*** to go! 865-388-6153. Games/Toys 206 ***Web ID# 501131*** Farmer’s Market 150 Chihuahua Pups, Reg., short hair, small, Peekapoo Pups males 231 MF diesel, PS, 89 San Francisco Atari ready for Xmas, start only $150; Pekingese hours, 5' JD finishing Rush the Rock, Al$350. 865-216-5770 Pups, females only mower, $9,000 obo. zatraz Ed. 2 seats. ***Web ID# 501591*** $200. 423-337-6032 865-922-8694; 556-8694 $650. 865-365-1497

pumper truck from Chattanooga. Sitting proudly in the front seat was John Simmons, a Morning Pointe resident who retired from the Knoxville Fire Department. “I drove a 1934 and (19)39

Nash truck,” he said. “The 39 was a lot like this one.” Behind the fire truck was a van filled with Santa-hatwearing seniors, waving to the crowd. And leading the way was John Simmons.

232 Utility Trailers 255 Antiques Classics 260 Imports

Gym quality Recumbent HURRICANE Sundeck UTILITY TRAILERS CHEV. CAMARO 1967 mod. 237 2006, YaAll Sizes Available Conv. Black, 90% Bike, AFG 4.0AR, maha 200 HP 4 865-986-5626 orig. 327. $25,000. like new, cost $875. stroke / trailer, smokeymountaintrailers.com 423-721-8005 Sell $395 obo. Call Bimini top, mooring 865-804-3326 cover, front & side TREADMILL, almost curtains. $24,500. Vans 261 256 Sport Utility exc. cond., 716-474-5894 $150. Cad. Escalade 2008, CHRYSLER TOWN Call 865-285-0102 blk w/blk leath. int. & Country Ltd. 2004, Loaded. 175k mi. new tires, AC, & brake $14,000. 423-721-8005 sys., loaded, all pwr. Pools/Hot Tubs 209 $5000. 423-346-3439. GMC TERRAIN 2014 Pontoon Boat drive HEALTHMATE INODYSSEY SLE, 2.4L, 22/32 on trailer for 24' to HONDA FRARED 2 person 2013 Touring, exc mpg, 4k mi, $20,400. 28' boat. Exc. sauna, like new, 865-414-2232. cond, 17K mi, $1000/b.o. 423-721-8005 $1300. 865-240-3771 $28,500. 423-295-5393 HONDA PILOT 2011 Touring, fully loaded, 235 Collectibles 213 Campers exc. cond. 40k mi. $20,500. 423-295-5393 Dept. 56 Snow Village, NEW & PRE-OWNED 5 major pcs orig. TOYOTA Sequoia SR5 Trucks 257 OFF SEASON SALE box, other access. 2004, gold, V8, 4.7L, 2014 MODEL SALE $250. 865-945-2475 83,700 mi, slight hail Check Us Out At Chev. Avalanche, 2002, damage, $9800. 865Northgaterv.com white, loaded, 4" susp. LARGE Collection of 693-4360; 803-6194 or call 865-681-3030 lift. New whls/tires. assorted knives, Case, $10,000. 423-721-8005 Colt & automatic knives. To many to name. 262 DAKOTA Imports Motorcycles 238 DODGE $6500 for all or sell 2000, 5.9 RT, exc separate. 865-679-6836 cond., 65K mi, BMW 2013 328i Cushman Eagle 1960, $7,200. 865-281-8009 Hardtop conv. LIONEL TRAIN SET just in time for Like new. 9K mi. 0 gage, $400 obo & HO Christmas, orig. RAM 2014 $28,500. 423-295-5393 Set, $200 obo. NIB, restored except for DODGE Express Quad 865-742-5045;522-4610. eng. $1,000. 865-368- 1500 cab 4x2, only 4700 mi. BMW 328xi 2011, 2 dr, 9828 before 7pm 5.7L Hemi V8, 6 sp. AT, exc. cond. AWD. 9k trailer pkg, spray mi. $16,900. Phone Coins 214 HONDA 2002 XR100R, full 423-295-5393 used very little, bedliner, Extang Trifecta bed cover, chrome side good shape, $900. CASH / BUYING steps. Pritius braking LEXUS ES300 1992, Call 865-522-6600 Pre-1964 old US syst. for towing. 2nd owner, 125K mi, coins/collections. HONDA SHADOW- $30,000/b.o. 865-250-4056 good cond., $3500. Local 865-705-3460 SPIRIT 2008, red, ***Web ID# 499109*** 865-573-5167 ONLY 1000 MILES!! TOYOTA PreRunner LEXUS ES300 2001, Showroom condition! Wanted To Buy 222 $4995 OBO 865-414-1321 SR5 2000, 120,500 mi, coach lthr., 1 owner, Ext Cab, fact. sunrf, garaged, exc. cond., V6, AC, no rust, BUYING COMIC NINJA ZX-6R 2009, blk., 144K miles. Goodrich all terrain books, small or lg. $5,750. 865-690-8846. Blue, ONLY 2945 tires, new timing collections. Phone MILES!! Excellent belt / water pump / LEXUS LS 400 1999, 865-368-7499 condition! $5650 brakes. $6900 obo. like new, black, OBO. 865-414-1321 865-567-6832 loaded, moonrf, 6 CD Sporting Goods 223 changer, gray lthr, TACOMA 99K interstate miles, Autos Wanted 253 TOYOTA SR5 ext. cab 1999 timing belt & all BB Goal, full sz, life4WD, 4 cyl. 315K mi, service work done, time mod. New 12/13 $4,000. 423-863-4160. always garaged, non pd $200; sell $125. smoker, showroom Assem. 865-689-2585 inside & out, 4 Wheel Drive 258 new Tiger Paw Uniroyal FOR JUNK CARS tires. A must see. And also Buying Sold new $55,200. Scrap Metal, Aluminum Honda Ridgeline 2006, 139K mi, exc cond., Mint cond. $13,500. Wheels & Batteries. $12,000. Call 865-773865-335-5727 4123 ***Web ID# 497030***

PAYING UP TO $600!!

865-208-9164

262

Toyota Camry 2004, 80.5K mi, orig ownr, garaged, non smoker, new tires, $6,900. 865-360-0704 ***Web ID# 497265*** TOYOTA CAMRY XLE 2007, low mi, $15,900. Call 865-693-0031 VW BEETLE 2003, 1.8 turbo charged, AT, 85K mi, $3995. 865947-8098; 227-7075

Domestic

265

CHEV. Monte Carlo 2004 SS, Dale Earnhardt Ed., black, loaded, 54K mi, mint cond., $11,500 obo. 865-977-1980 ***Web ID# 499082*** CHRYS. PT Cruiser GT turbo 2003, very clean, chrome whls, sunrf, lthr, side air bags, Inferno red, 89,027 mi, $8800. 865680-3729 SATURN 2005, 4 dr, full power, AT, 26 pt maint. ck., 35 mpg, $3295. 865-382-0365

DEADLINE is 4 pm Friday for Wednesday’s paper.

Flooring

330

CERAMIC TILE installation. Floors/ walls/ repairs. 33 yrs exp, exc work! John 938-3328

Guttering

333

HAROLD'S GUTTER SERVICE. Will clean front & back $20 & up. Quality work, guaranteed. Call 288-0556.

B-4 • DECEMBER 17, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news

health & lifestyles NEWS FROM PARKWEST, WEST KNOXVILLE’S HEALTHCARE LEADER • TREATEDWELL.COM • 374-PARK

From student to teacher Peninsula patient guides others in recovery It all seemed so real. Marie* felt the piercing pain of nails being driven into her hands and feet. She thought she was being physically crucified. In reality, she was in a hospital following a diagnosis of bipolar schizoaffective disorder. After she continued to rock back and forth in agony, her husband begged hospital staff to try another type of medication. There had been years of struggle and ineffective treatment, but on that day Marie found a treatment that worked and finally found some peace. This was the most painful chapter in a long story of an uphill battle that began when Marie was a child. Raised in foster care, Marie and her siblings were removed from their home because their father was serving in the U.S. Navy, and their mother was sick. “My mother had schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder,” Marie recalls. “She was a nurse in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and she treated burn and bombing victims. I saw her try to kill herself several times.” When Marie reached her early 20s, she says she knew something wasn’t right. She was experiencing manic highs and despondent lows. In 1990, she was hospitalized the first of many times and lost custody of her son. After remarrying in 1993 and giving birth to another child, Marie was hospitalized 15 times in 12 years and tried to commit suicide more than half a dozen times. It was when her husband gave her an ultimatum that things began to turn around. He told her he loved her unconditionally, but for the sake of their son, she was going to have to make a choice. If she chose to try to end her life again, he would take their son away. “I thought – ‘I have a choice?’ – and I realized for the first time that I did,” says Marie. “When I got to that deep, dark place I could reach out. I could call out for help. I didn’t know I had that choice.” After learning she could choose to reach out, Marie experienced her first small victory over mental illness. She never attempted suicide again. Marie made an honest effort

“I’m happy, I’m fulfilled and I’m content,” says Marie. “I realized that I’m just as important as everyone else.”

Since graduating from Peninsula’s peer support training program, Marie has begun sharing what she’s learned with others, even teaching art classes to those struggling with mental illness.

to get better and made signiﬁcant progress. But in 2005 she had her worst breakdown, complete with cruciﬁ xion hallucinations. “I thought it was real,” Marie says. “I felt it. It was tactile. It was auditory. It was visual. I went through the whole emotion of it and the feeling and the excruciating pain of it. I had totally lost my mind.”

She was just one day away from being committed to a mental institution when she was ﬁnally given the medication that worked. Marie started taking deliberate steps to keep from sliding back into that dark place in her mind. Without knowing it, she was practicing some of the skills she would later be teaching as part of Peninsula’s peer support program.

“I started journaling,” Marie says, “and I started listing things that seemed to trigger attacks.” She noticed that she was more likely to have a bipolar schizoaffective episode when she’d had a lack of sleep or was under a great deal of stress. Then she began some relaxation techniques, including meditation, to calm herself in those situations. “The only thing I lacked was support,” Marie says. “I isolated myself because I was so afraid of relapsing, and I stayed in the house and didn’t go out much.” While Marie and her family were living a fairly peaceful existence, she couldn’t help feeling that there should be more to life. One day in 2010 when her son had an appointment that happened to be next door to the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee (MHAET), Marie knew she had to walk in and ask some questions. She was quickly connected with people and programs to support her recovery efforts. A few months

later, she was enrolled in a class at Peninsula. “When I first started coming, I was scared because I didn’t know what it was going to be like,” Marie says. “But I was welcomed. And the more people I met, the more I realized that I wasn’t alone.” Now, Marie is helping others find the way out of the darkness mental illness can bring, without isolating themselves the way she did. She enrolled in classes to lead a group at Peninsula. Marie has become a student and teacher in art classes, and has sold some of her work at the annual Artsclamation! Fine Art Show and Sale benefitting Peninsula. She also volunteers at the MHAET Call Center, further spreading the message that recovery is within reach. Supporting others has extended to her own family. Marie’s sister has begun the long climb out from bipolar schizoaffective disorder and addiction. She and Marie have reconnected, as Marie offers only encouragement for her sister’s bravery in her personal battle. Marie understands from experience why people who have mental illnesses might want to shut themselves off from the world, but she’s encouraging them to reach out for help instead. “Educate yourself and seek out people in the mental health field,” Marie says, “because the more you educate yourself about your diagnosis, the more you’ll find out you don’t have to be alone.” Marie is now a strong woman who faces life’s challenges with the help of friends and supporters every day. She’s very different from the person who repeatedly tried to end her life to escape the agony of mental illness. “Now I’m realizing that there is a purpose for me, and that purpose is to help others,” she says. To learn more about the services offered through Peninsula, visit PeninsulaBehavioralHealth.org or call 865-970-9800. For information about mental illness, visit mhaet.com or call 865-584-9125. *Name has been changed for protection of privacy.

Peninsula recovery services For many people like Marie, mental health treatments such as medication and therapy are essential parts of the recovery process. Peninsula offers additional services to adults receiving mental health treatment to equip them to live more satisfying and productive lives. The Recovery Education Center (REC) at the Peninsula Lighthouse campus in Knoxville serves adult TennCare enrollees with mental health diagnoses from around the region by helping them move beyond troubling symptoms through psychiatric rehabilitation. The REC offers interactive classes that provide essential knowledge and skills for pursuing educational, work or volunteer op-

portunities and healthy lifestyles. The REC program, based on the internationally recognized best practice model Wellness Recovery Action Plan® (WRAP), helps students develop and implement self-directed plans for reaching their long term goals, especially in maintaining mental health recovery and sobriety, if the issue is co-occurring. An on-site job specialist assists REC students in locating, attaining and retaining meaningful work in the community and acts as a liaison with Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Peninsula’s Peer Support Academy (PPSA) is a non-clinical recovery and social support program serving Knox, Sevier and Blount county adults with mental illness.

PPSA members attend recovery and holistic health education classes; support groups; ﬁtness, leisure and community service activities; and recreational outings each month. Members have the opportunity to be mentored and develop leadership skills. Choice, empowerment and personal responsibility are highly valued and promoted by specially trained Academy staff members who have also experienced recovery from mental illness. Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment and Education (COPES), a PPSA outreach program, offers community awareness and recovery education in local venues. PPSA participants are not required to be current or past Peninsula clients.

Because the Academy is funded by a grant from the state of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, all activities and transportation are

free of charge. For more information about Peninsula Recovery Services, call 865-970-9800 or visit www. PeninsulaBehavioralHealth.org.

From something broken, something beautiful.

0901-2297

Like the view through a kaleidoscope, Peninsula Recovery Education Center classes help people see themselves in their best light and appreciate the value that they and others have to offer. For more information about Peninsula’s Recovery Education Center, call 865-970-9800.