VOL. 10 NO. 12
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Artistic energy: Fabric artist
BUZZ July 4 parade It’s never too early to plan for the town of Farragut’s annual Independence Day Parade. The registration form will be available at www. townoffarragut.org/register and at the Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive, beginning Friday, April 1, at 8 a.m. The parade is scheduled for Monday, July 4, at 9:30 a.m. The deadline to register is Friday, June 17, until the town receives 95 entries, or the lineup area is full, whichever comes first. The parade will begin in the parking lot of Farragut High School, travel to Kingston Pike and continue to Boring Road, just east of Farragut Towne Square Shopping Center. Participants must be in line at the high school no later than 8:30 a.m. on July 4. To have an individual or group added to the parade email list, contact Arleen Higginbotham at ahigginbotham@ townoffarragut.org or 2183375.
Food Gala Farragut Rotary is sponsoring its second annual International Food Gala 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at the UT Visitors Center on Neyland Drive. Tickets are $75. Keith Bryson is chair. The Gala will feature dishes prepared and served by students in the Pellissippi State culinary arts program – Asian, Spanish, Italian and French. Sponsors include Read Windows, Fisher Tire, and Citico’s Restaurant at Windriver.
Wine benefit
mixes media for positive art
Bailey Earith looks over an assortment of books she made.
By Carolyn Evans Bailey Earith envisions energy swirling around like the kaleidoscope of color and texture she sees in her fabrics. The Farragut resident is a mixed media fiber artist, taking fabric to an artistic level as she paints, texturizes, sculpts and embellishes. The energy she wants in her home studio in Farragut and in the classrooms where she teaches a variety of art-related subjects is positive. “The world is full of turmoil, anger and strife,� says Earith. “These negative energies are very draining and destructive.� She says it is her mission to combat these negative forces with positive energy. “Each work is created in a peace-filled,
Art exhibit The town of Farragut and Farragut Arts Council are sponsoring the 2016 Farragut Middle Schools Art Show at the Farragut Town Hall. The exhibit runs through Friday, April 8, during regular town hall hours. See the work of some of Farragut’s most talented young artists from Farragut Middle School and St. John Neumann Catholic School. Awards will be given for first, second and third places during a reception 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. The exhibit is open to all. Info: 966-7057
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In her home studio, artist Bailey Earith creates fiber art pieces that include texture and embellishments. Photos by Carolyn Evans
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New zoning districts could yield new development By Wendy Smith
Dixie Lee Wines & Liquors is hosting a free “Wine Benefit� 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 25, for the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs organization. This group provides service dogs for injured veterans at no charge. The event will include a wine tasting and auction with donations accepted.
March 23, 2016
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The Farragut Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) recommended an amendment to the 2012 Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and a rezoning that will allow a proposed assisted living facility at Campbell Station Road and Herron Road to move forward. When Peter Falk first brought the concept before the MPC in May of 2015, Cottage Creek residents, as well as several commissioners, expressed disapproval. But last week, all community feedback was positive. The week before, the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved, on first reading, three
zoning ordinance amendments that will provide a clearly defined zoning district for assisted living facilities. One would amend the community service district (S-1) to allow for low-impact elderly care development. The MPC’s recommendation to rezone the 4.5-acre parcel, owned by the Herron family, from General Single Family Residential (R-2) to S-1 was contingent upon approval of the amended S-1 zoning district. Community Development Director Mark Shipley said staff approved the CLUP amendment from Very Low Density Residential to Civic/Institutional because it’s consistent with other civic uses
along Campbell Station Road. Falk told commissioners that his current plan for the facility takes many of the neighbors’ concerns into consideration. The footprint of the building and parking lot takes up less than 40 percent of the parcel, and parking is behind the facility, he said. Elmer Parlier, the Herron family representative, said he thinks the current plan will enhance property values and the appearance of Campbell Station Road. Sweet Briar resident Debbie Raines said she’s lived near, and worked in, a similar facility, and both were positive experiences. The facility had zero impact
on the surrounding residential neighborhood, she said. “These people are not noisy. You’re not going to have to worry about wild parties there.� Susan Reeve, the only homeowner whose property is adjacent to the Herron property, questioned whether the parcel served any purpose as a vacant lot. An assisted living facility would be better than a fast food restaurant, she said. “I look at this as a good thing.� Commission also discussed the creation of a Mixed Use Neighborhood (MUN) commercial zoning district. The MUN would be an To page A-3
Feel the ‘Buzz’ for next schools super By Betty Bean In February, school board member Terry Hill’s colleagues tasked her with vetting candidates for interim schools superintendent and reporting back April 4 with a recommendation for her colleagues. There are several candiBuzz Thomas dates, but almost nobody is talking about anyone but Great Schools Partnership president Oliver “Buzz� Thomas for the job. Thomas gained frontrunner status because he is intimately fa-
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miliar with the workings of Knox County Schools, well liked and, in many respects, highly qualified. Board chair Doug Harris kicked that perception up a notch when he undercut Hill by declaring Thomas the best choice before the vetting process had begun. Harris is not running for re-election and is the de facto leader of the fivemember majority that will control the board until new members are seated in September. Hill, who is not a member of the majority coalition, declined to comment on the process. The search for an interim leader became necessary when Superintendent James McIntyre announced in January that he will
resign in July, citing the political reality that after the August elections, his supporters will no longer dominate the new school board. The interim superintendent will take over when McIntyre departs. The initial list of nominated candidates included Knox County Finance Director Chris Caldwell, Human Capital Strategy Director Rodney Russell, Secondary Schools Supervisor Danny Trent, Assistant Superintendent Bob Thomas, retired administrator Ed Hedgepeth and perennial candidate George Hamilton. Caldwell wasted no time saying thanks but no thanks. Sources say Russell and Hedgepeth have now done the same, leaving Buzz
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Thomas, Bob Thomas (who was strongly considered for the superintendent’s job in 2008 when McIntyre was selected) and Trent as the remaining viable candidates. But the smart money is on Buzz Thomas. “Buzz has that vision and the ability to sell that dream. He believes in what he does so deeply that people want to be a part of it. That’s a unique personality,� said board member Patti Bounds. “The first time I met Buzz, I sat there in his office and thought to myself, ‘Why did we go all the way to Boston to get Dr. McIntyre when Buzz is so highly qualified?’ To page A-3
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