VOL. 8 NO. 51 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Christmas greetings! In this drawing by Carol Chilton of Greeneville, Bill and Wanda Williams say it best. “Straight from the heart.”
Lights fantastic at Chilhowee Park Tour Chilhowee Park by car after dark to see the citysponsored forest of lighted trees floating on the lake. The exhibit will continue to Jan. 1.
Festival of Lights 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 Dam Road 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. Info: www. Legacyparks.org/.
IN THIS ISSUE Marvin West Money trumps tradition. How else can you explain changing the name of the historic Gator Bowl to TaxSlayer Bowl? The online tax prep people started paying the price in 2011. Naming rights were finalized this year.
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Wendy Smith Judging at Tour de Lights was a challenge. In the end, there were 1,023 riders, most of whom sported lights, tinsel or costumes. It was nothing short of magical to watch them depart for a tour of the Fourth & Gill neighborhood, even though my toes were numb.
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Betsy Pickle Christmas is a huge day for movies, and Shopper-News previews two of the best ones: “Into the Woods” and “The Imitation Game.”
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Sweet music Cedar Bluff Middle raises bar with symphonic orchestra By Sherri Gardner Howell When individuals all work together, the results can be a harmony of beautiful music. Cedar Bluff Middle School’s music department put an idea into play and not only made sweet music but nurtured an environment of cooperation and enrichment. CBMS band director Jessica Fine, orchestra teacher Abigail Buczynski and choral director Edie Taylor championed the idea of having a symphonic orchestra at the middle school this year, which would be the first time for the school since the 1970s. Fine says she has been working toward this goal for the three years she has been band director at the school.
Cedar Bluff Middle School student Savannah Truan prepares for a concert performed by the school’s symphonic orchestra. Photo by Sara Barrett
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‘Goodbye Friend’ Roger Kane pays tribute to Larry York By Nancy Anderson No doubt Christmas is a special time of year, but it isn’t always joyful. Karns lost a pillar of the community on Dec. 8 with the passing of Larry York. He went suddenly. His big heart simply gave out. If you’ve spent any time at all in Karns, then you’ve probably met Mr. York. One thing most everyone in Karns will tell you is that he never met a stranger. I can tell you personally this is true.
The first time I walked into a Karns Community Club meeting, he made me feel welcome, greeting me with a broad smile and a hearty handshake. He actually remembered my father from years ago when my family lived on Bluebell Lane. He made me feel as if I had come home. While attending Mr. York’s memorial service I had the privilege of hearing Roger Kane speak and want to share his words with you. “Of all the people I have met in my time in the community, he was truly a bright light, taken too soon at 74. When other people were
looking toward retirement, Larry looked for new activities. “He never met a stranger, he coordinated people meeting who needed to meet, and he lived out Larry York the Gospel every day without being pushy or overly religious. “The things that he loved the most were his wife, Carolyn, his daughter, Cammie, and sharing the gospel. “I used to think Clark the barber was the one to go to for all the information about Karns, but Larry loved and knew the people
of Karns. “He used to joke that I was the unofficial mayor and I would reply that he was. I am responsible for the lives and welfare of 65,000 people, but he actually probably knew all 65,000 personally. He knew their lives, families, life events and could connect all the dots of who, what, when and where. “He ‘held court’ every day with all the seniors at Hardee’s. If you ever get sad and miss Larry a little bit, go on out to Hardee’s and see the beautiful remembrance of him on the wall. “I stand in awe of Larry. He will ever be a part of Karns for years to come and I will miss him greatly. “Good-bye friend.”
Blasius is new director of design center By Wendy Smith Wayne Blasius, who began his new job as executive director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center this week, remembers having coffee with Annette Anderson back in 1977. Anderson was executive director of the design cenWayne Blasius ter from 1973 to 1995. She was one of the first people Blasius met when he arrived in Knoxville to begin graduate work in urban planning. They talked about the importance of getting involved in the community, and the conversation stoked his enthusiasm for civic engagement. In the years since, Blasius has volunteered for the design center,
Knox Heritage, Leadership Knoxville, the Central Business Improvement District and the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, along with other organizations. “I strongly believe in giving back, that our community is only as good as the work its citizens are willing to put into it.” He grew up in the Chicago area and didn’t intend to stay in Knoxville. But the South grew on him − especially the warm winters. After Blasius finished his degree, he was hired as a planner for the Metropolitan Planning Commission. He worked on the downtown master plan that ultimately led to that area’s renaissance. His firm, InSite Development, also contributed to downtown’s revitalization with the redevelopment of the Phoenix and the Mast General Store/Gallery Lofts.
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Knoxville has an incredible historic building stock, he says. “If you look down Gay Street, there are not many missing teeth.” The area has remained intact because businesses had little economic incentive to be there during the 1960s and 1970s, he says. If downtown had been booming, some of the buildings would have been torn down and replaced with modern equivalents. When it comes to good design, there’s always room for improvement, and he hopes the design center will continue to be a player in that. Blasius took the reins from interim executive director Mary Linda Schwarzbart, whom he commends for her leadership. He also praises the design center’s staff and volunteer board. He thinks his ability to envision a new future for downtown’s
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big, empty buildings will help him lead the design center, though its scope goes far beyond the city center. Knoxville and its outlying communities depend on each other, and good design is beneficial to everybody, he says. The ETCDC, which serves a 16-county region, provides professional design and planning services to communities and nonprofit organizations that would not otherwise be able to afford such services. Conceptual designs for projects, which are chosen based on service to the public, help organizations focus their vision and seek funding. The design center was founded in 1969 by renowned Knoxville architect Bruce McCarty. Staff is composed of three full-time and two part-time employees. Funding for the nonprofit comes from grants and donations.
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