VOL. 9 NO. 6
IN THIS ISSUE
‘Hunchback’ lesson in love
The action taking place on stage at Grace Christian Academy’s theatrical production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” was just part of the story for the directors and students. Tonya Wilson, director, says the adaptation she and codirector Tracy Rodgers brought to life for the school’s fourthgraders and older is a lesson in love and acceptance.
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See Nancy Anderson on page A-3
Science Bowl! A handful of eighth graders at Cedar Bluff Middle School have put in extra study time before school, when most kids are still in their pajamas.
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Celebrating 20 years of Faith By Sara Barrett Faith Promise Church celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, and Senior Pastor Chris Stephens said he is already pumped about the next 20 years. “We started doing church differently 20 years ago,” said Stephens. Folks who join the church aren’t called “members” because the word connotes privileges of a club. Instead, they are referred to as “The Core.” “What The Core gains is great vision, an opportunity to serve in any area of the church, and they will give their life to something that will matter for eternity,” said Stephens. “Our vision isn’t for the people already attending Faith Promise. Our vision is for people who aren’t here yet,” he said. Faith Promise is considered progressive and has a more contemporary service style than traditional churches. Stephens said they use nontraditional music to
See Sara Barrett on page A-9 To page A-3
Faith Promise Church had more than 6,500 people attend service during the first weekend in February.
Saying thanks Scouting Sunday is an annual event at Beaver Ridge that is designed to recognize boys and leaders from Cub Scouts to Eagle Scouts for the time and efforts they give to scouting. This year’s celebration was intended to honor Becker, who has more than 50 years of scouting leadership and service under his belt.
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See Nancy Anderson on page A-6
Level playing field for students? Unexpected barriers awaited the Austin-East Robotics Team when they applied to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition, an international program that challenges talented high schoolers to solve high-tech science and engineering problems.
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See Bill Dockery on page A-4
One sculpture to go; hold the second By Bill B Bil i l Dockery D k The city’s Public Art Committee voted on Thursday not to buy a $36,000 sculpture on State Street and postponed consideration of another sculpture that has been offered as a gift for Mary Vestal Park in South Knoxville. The stainless-steel sculpture is by Isaac Duncan of Chattanooga and sits in front of the State Street Garage. It is part of the yearly Art in Public Places program that Dogwood Arts has The Public Art Committee took under advise- sponsored for eight years. Dogwood Arts execument the offer of a marble and steel sculpture done by Bruce Bennett. The gift, if accepted, tive director Lisa Duncan would replace an earlier sculpture at Mary Vestal (no relation) said that the piece is for sale for $36,000 Park that deteriorated in the weather.
or can b be removed d when h the h Art in Public Places program makes its selections for the upcoming Dogwood Arts Festival. Duncan noted that for $35,000 the committee could place seven sculptures around town in the Art in Public Places program. The committee discussed whether to spend its budget on purchasing the Isaac Duncan piece or to have the space empty and commission a sculpture specifically designed for the State Street location. The voice vote not to buy the sculpture appeared unanimous. The sculpture under con-
The Public Art Committee has turned down the opportunity to buy a stainless-steel sculpture that stands in front of the State Street Garage. Titled “Threaded,” the piece by Chattanooga artist Isaac Duncan was offered at a price of $36,000. It is part of the Dogwood Arts yearly To page A-3 program, Art in Public Places.
Meet the toreador Bass-baritone Ryan Kuster thinks that most people can relate to George Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” which is being performed by the Knoxville Opera Company this weekend. “For one thing, people will recognize the music. Most people know a lot more of ‘Carmen’ than they think they do. And the story is compelling. There’s no real hero. It’s very human – there’s not a clear moment where you say, ‘Oh, this is the person that I root for.’”
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See Carol Shane on page A-11
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Love, love me do By Sherri Gardner Howell I have bad news for greeting card companies, restaurants and florists. When it comes to filling hearts with love on Valentine’s Day, you have some heavy competition that you will never beat. Elementary schools. My sweet husband, who groans like all men when February rolls around, has presented me with some very lovely cards, beautiful flowers and delicious dinners for Valentine’s Days through the years. Nothing can compare, however, to the Popsicle sticks picture frame with crayon red hearts on all sides and a second-grade photo of our younger son grinning from ear to ear. The scrawled “I love you Mommy” on the back completes the heart-tug. And then there is the plaster of Paris handprint from our firstborn
when he was 5 with a teacher-assisted poem on the back: “Here’s my hand on Valentine’s Day; Hold me close as I grow and play.” Even now, in the midst of trying to declutter, I can’t part with the schoolmade Valentine’s Day cards. I have been away from elementary schools so long that I don’t even know what’s “allowed” anymore as far as giving Valentines to classmates. I remember my own Valentine’s Days at school, however. Who knew so much could be read into the size and sentiment on silly “tear on the dotted line” Valentines? Yes, class lists were sent home with proper admonishments for every child to provide a card for every other child and that no additional “gifts” could be brought to school, unless there was one for everyone. And, yes, we followed all the
rules in my small town in the 1960s. But that doesn’t mean each chipper “Barbie says: You’re the grooviest” or Yogi Bear’s “I can’t BEAR to be without you” we received wasn’t analyzed, dissected and conclusions drawn. I knew Greg Hart loved me after Valentine’s Day in fourth grade. Greg and I both bought The Beatles Valentine’s pack to pass out in our classroom that year. We both gave each other the same card: the largest one in the pack with all FOUR Beatles on it and the sentiment: “Love, Love Me Do. Happy Valentine’s Day.” I knew it was true love. I, personally, had spent almost an hour deciding between that card and the “All You Need Is Love” smaller card for Greg. It was destiny. (Destiny took an ugly turn the next year when Greg threw me
over after I won Miss Lexington Junior First Princess. He immediately declared his love for Teresa Smith, who won queen. He moved out of town shortly thereafter, but I had nothing to do with that.) Unfortunately for adult men and women today, all this competition from elementary school crushes and children’s handprints doesn’t take the pressure off for Valentine’s Day. We all love to be loved, and we love to be reminded that we are loved. The point, of course, is to look inside the heart of whoever it is you love. You’ll find the right “gift” in whatever brings that smile to his or her face. And if you just can’t figure it out, call an elementary school teacher.
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