NORTH / EAST VOL. 3 NO. 15
BUZZ Biz signs coming to I-640 at mall Businesses can register now for logo signs at Exit 8 on Interstate 640 at Knoxville Center Mall. City Council member Nick Della Volpe said, “The door formally opens July 1, but don’t wait.” He, the East Towne Business Alliance and others have worked to obtain signage to support businesses in and around the mall. Eligible businesses are food, gasoline, lodging or special attractions located within three miles of the exit. If excess stores apply, those closest to the exit will be chosen, Della Volpe said. Annual rate is $527, a price that could increase. Forms are online at www.tnlogos.com. Info: state contractor Steve Wolterman at 877-907-0036.
‘Say It Loud’ at Pellissippi State Pellissippi State Community College’s Magnolia Avenue Campus will host a showing of “Say It Loud: Knoxville During the Civil Rights Era,” a documentary chronicling local events that were part of the Civil Rights Movement, 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the community room. The community is invited to the free event, which features a brief presentation by Theotis Robinson Jr., one of the first African-American students to desegregate the UT campus in 1961. The campus is at 1610 E. Magnolia Ave.
Helping farmers accept EBT cards The Knox County Health Department and Nourish Knoxville are partnering to help farmers and farmers market managers accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards (commonly referred to as food stamps). A free sign-up will be 9 a.m. until noon Monday, April 20, in the KCHD auditorium, 140 Dameron Ave. Info: Katheryne.nix@ knoxcounty.org or 215-5170.
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Concord UMC Malcolm Shell celebrates the 150th anniversary of Concord United Methodist Church. And Sandra Clark talks about reuses for the house and land at Campbell Station Inn. Click “Farragut” on our website.
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April 15, 2015
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The Muse Repurposed kids’ museum finds growing audience By Bill Dockery The Muse Knoxville is undergoing a dramatic renaissance. A new board with a broadened mission has retooled the former East Tennessee Discovery Center, which has occupied a quiet corner of Chilhowee Park for decades. “We’ve had four times the number of visitors in winter 2015 that we had in winter 2014,” said Ellie Kittrell, executive director of the children’s museum, which features hands-on science exhibits, the city’s only public planetarium and a school outreach program. “In the calendar year before the renovations, we had fewer than 7,000 visitors, and half of those came during the Tennessee Valley Fair, when we didn’t charge admission. In the last three months, we’ve had 17,000 visitors.” Kittrell said that membership in the museum is up 600 percent, with some 500 family memberships representing 1,500 people.
Javen Pippens and Austin Gyce race vehicles they made at the museum’s Lego display. The boys were part of a tour from Princeton Alternative Elementary School, an accelerated school in Birmingham, Ala., that was touring African-American heritage sites in Knoxville.
On a recent weekday, The Muse Knoxville was crowded with students, parents and teachers from Dandridge Elementary School and a touring group from Princeton Alternative Elementary School, an accelerated school in Birming-
ham, Ala. The hands-on exhibits and planetarium were a hive of activity as children raced Lego cars, built with foam building blocks and experimented with microscopes and electronic displays.
That renewed excitement has attracted the interest of urban consultants recently hired to envision future growth for the city’s downtown. Urban Land Institute consultants To page 3
Housing for homeless veterans gets warm welcome By Betty Bean A new housing development for homeless veterans in North Knoxville is getting strong support from the community. Washington Oaks consists of three two-story brick buildings at 3225 Washington Pike and will have 16 apartments – one for a resident manager and 15 for homeless veterans. A caseworker will be onsite during the day. It will be run by the Helen Ross McNabb Center and is a legacy project of former director Andy Black, who retired last year. Black, himself a veteran, took a personal interest in providing housing for homeless veterans who have received a mental health or substance abuse diagnosis. The project has received funding from several sources, including the city of Knoxville, United Way, and a big boost from Randy Boyd, who chaired last year’s United Way campaign. Helen Ross McNabb spokesperson Emily Scheuneman said that when HRM representatives heard that Boyd wanted to raise money for a capital need, and preferred to invest in a shovel-ready project,
Washington Oaks, a supportive housing development for homeless veterans, is nearing completion. they got right on it and applied for funding for a two-phased project: a newly constructed building in Inskip and Washington Oaks, both of which will provide wraparound services. “We were already in the middle of fundraising, and this helped us complete our veterans’ housing,” she said. “We are very grateful to Randy Boyd and the United Way for helping us complete this project.” Another group that has stepped
up to the challenge is the Democratic Women of Knoxville, whose members have volunteered to completely furnish 15 kitchens. Club president Betty Reddick said the group got involved through one of its members who works for United Way, and at first the plan was to furnish two kitchens. But when they heard that the Helen Ross McNabb staff was having some difficulty furnishing the rest of the units, she decided to ask
her membership if they’d be willing to do them all. The answer was yes, and Reddick’s home (which is within a few blocks of Washington Oaks) is stacked with toasters, mixers, dishes, pots and pans, hand towels, linens and everything else needed to fully equip a kitchen. “Our veterans deserve no less,” Reddick said. Scheuneman praised Reddick and her group and said that the new housing development has been warmly received by the neighborhood. Ronnie Collins, president of the Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association, said that his group had no problem welcoming the Helen Ross McNabb project and considers it a great improvement over the previous management of the apartment complex. “Frankly, it was a problem area,” he said. “We believe this will be well-run and will end up being an asset to the community, particularly since it’s for veterans.” The tentative move-in date is the end of April.
Travel the world with Melanie Wood By Anne Hart If world travels are on your bucket list, there’s a way to reach that goal without ever wandering far from your home. Just ask local artist Melanie Wood for a tour of her home. There you may gaze upon fields of sunflowers in Tuscany and idyllic farmhouses in the south of France, or acres of bluebonnets in Texas and scenes along the Maine shore. Even closer to home, glimpse sailboats on the Tennessee River or Ayres Hall on The Hill at the University of Tennessee. Each scene has been created in
oil paint on canvas, and each is exquisite. Every spring, when Wood and her husband, Tom, open their home in West Knoxville to the public during the Dogwood Arts DeTour event, they remove their own art collection and replace it with Melanie’s impressionist oils on canvas that literally map the couple’s world travels. But that isn’t all. Not only does the house show-
case Melanie’s paintings, but so do surrounding terraces and patios, where canvases of all sizes are happily tucked in next to pots of bright red geraniums and blooming daisies or posed near a cascading waterfall whose music provides appropriate accompaniment to the lovely blooms – both the living ones and those on canvas. It’s a visual wonderland. A high-end interior designer earlier in her life, Melanie uses
her skills to showcase her work to its best advantage. Pieces are displayed as they would be in any home – the perfect way to let potential buyers know how the art might look on their own walls. Throughout the living and dining areas and in adjacent hallways, there are landscapes of widely varying scenes from this country and others interspersed with floral compositions. In the spacious kitchen, countertop easels display paintings of brightly colored roosters, chickTo page 3
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2 • APRIL 15, 2015 • Shopper news
health & lifestyles
‘Still cancer-free’
Cancer survivor paid heavy price for ignoring heartburn Ron Houser was a busy man with places to go, things to do. Meetings, airports, meals on the run. Too busy for this; too busy for that. “I was very career-minded, and my career took me all over the country – I was everywhere,â€? said Houser, whose job as a human resources/labor relations executive for a large global health care corporation kept him away from home ďŹ ve days a week for years. “I loved my work. Loved it! I wanted to make that certain level within the corporation, which I did by working hard. But I gave up things to do that, and one of the things I gave up was me.â€? More precisely, the Knoxville retiree gave up his esophagus and a portion of his stomach to esophageal cancer, largely because he didn’t follow his doctor’s orders to keep his heartburn under control. “I can’t blame my cancer and my situation on anybody except Ron Houser because Ron Houser didn’t do what the doctors told him to do,â€? says the 72-year-old Houser. “I didn’t monitor my health the way that I should.â€? Fortunately for Houser, however, his cancer was caught early, and following a complex surgery by Drs. Lacy Harville and Gregory Midis at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center to remove his esophagus and a portion of his stomach, he remains cancer-free 2 1/2 years since his surgery – a major achievement since most patients at his stage live only two years. What’s more, he required no chemotherapy or radiation treatments afterward. “When I ďŹ nished with Dr. Midis at my last appointment, he reached
Ron Houser remains cancer-free after major surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in 2012.
out both hands in front of me, and as I took his hands he said, ‘Ron, I am glad to tell you that after all the tests you have gone through, you are still cancer-free.’ And he said, ‘I want you to know that that is HUGE!’ â€? “There is generally a high risk of recurrence,â€? said Dr. Midis. “So when you reach a milestone or anniversary, that’s an extremely exciting important moment.â€? “I owe all that to the Good Lord, Dr. Midis, Dr. Harville and to the ďŹ ne treatment that I got at Fort Sanders,â€? said Houser. “I can’t complain a bit about what they did. They were on top of it.â€? Certainly, they took Houser’s
heartburn seriously even if he had not. He’d had heartburn since his 20s, treating it off and on with over-the-counter antacids. By the 1980s, he was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reux disease (GERD or simply “reuxâ€?) and prescribed a daily dose of omeprazole to control the acid. “I didn’t always have time to take my medicine,â€? he said. “I thought, ‘It’s just heartburn.’ But when it would get bad, I would take my medicine. When it got better, I’d stop taking it.â€? By 2000, his symptoms worsened. An endoscopy revealed he not only had a hiatal hernia
but also Barrett’s Esophagus, a precancerous condition caused by chronic, long-term reflux of stomach acid into the lower esophagus. After the hernia repair, the doctors stressed the importance of regularly taking his reux medicine and monitoring his Barrett’s. “If I didn’t, they said I would have cancer in 10 to 12 years,â€? Houser said. “But if I didn’t hurt or wasn’t having a problem, I wouldn’t take it. I just said ‘There’s no need of taking it – I’m OK.’ But then when I hurt or would have reux come back up, I would get back on it for four, ďŹ ve or six days and it would level out, and I would quit taking
it. So, I was actually doing myself harm.â€? A dozen years later, in August 2012, he sat in the ofďŹ ce of the late Dr. David Lee, tears welling in his eyes as the gastroenterologist told Houser his Barrett’s had developed into esophageal cancer, the fastest-growing form of cancer in the United States today. “I couldn’t believe it,â€? he said. An attempted endoscopic mucosal resection could not be completed because one of Houser’s three tumors was too deep. That left one option: Trans-Hiatal Esophagetomy (THE), a major surgery in which the patient’s esophagus is removed and replaced by a portion of their stomach which is used to process food. It’s such a complex operation that it requires the kind of surgical skill that comes only through repetition. Houser was referred to Drs. Midis and Harville, who perform between 20 to 30 of those surgeries a year – enough to be designated a Center of Excellence due to its high volume and successful outcomes. “Thank the Good Lord and thank these doctors’ skills,â€? said Houser. “They were able to go in and take all that out. People need to be aware of esophageal cancer, and they need to know some of the causes. Don’t be like me: ‘Well, I’ve got heartburn ‌ I’ve got a little reux. ‌ It’ll be OK. I’ll take a Tums or I’ll take whatever and it’ll be OK,’ not realizing that the longer it lasts, the bigger and stronger it becomes, and you are really risking that chance of cancer developing within the esophagus and that part of the stomach.â€?
Complex T.H.E. surgery requires skill, practice Cut down here and up there, remove this pipe down to there, pull up this drain and hook ’em together up here. It sounds simple enough, but a trans-hiatal esophagectomy (THE) is a lot more complicated than reworking the kitchen plumbing. As with many complex surgical procedures, data show the best results for esophagectomy (or removal of all or part of the esophagus) come from surgeons whose expertise and skills have sharpened through practice at high-volume medical centers. In fact, most surgeons and published literature says a surgeon needs to perform a minimum of 12 to 25 esophagectomies per year to maintain proďŹ ciency needed. At Fort Sanders Regional, which has been designated as a Center of Excellence, surgeons perform 20 to 30 per year. Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Lacy Harville has been doing esophagectomies like Ron Houser’s for 23 years, often teaming over the last eight years with Fort Sanders
Lacy Harville, MD
Gregory Midis, MD
surgical oncologists Drs. Paul Dudrick or Gregory Midis. “I used to do them all myself or with my partners, but having Dr. Midis and Dr. Dudrick makes it easier because it’s a two-surgeon thing,� said Harville. “These are six- to eight-hour operations, but our average time is somewhere between two and three hours, and our average length of hospital stay is down to about eight to 10 days.�
“The bottom line is: We’ve found there are better outcomes when thoracic surgeons and surgical oncologists adopt a team approach for esophageal cancer,� said Dr. Midis. “It’s a logical way to treat patients. With our high volumes, Dr. Harville and I feel comfortable that we have the same outcomes and complication rates as the national standards.� In Houser’s THE, one incision was made from the bottom of the sternum to the belly button and another was made in the left side of his neck near the carotid artery. The surgeons then could work simultaneously removing the cancerous esophagus and an upper portion of the stomach to reduce the possibility of recurrence. Then, pulling up the stomach to serve as a replacement esophagus, the surgeons reconnect the stomach and remaining esophagus via the neck. Midis also placed a feeding tube in Houser’s small intestine to provide nourishment until he was well enough to eat and drink again.
The surgery does require some lifestyle changes. “These are complex and difďŹ cult operations to have, and the patients must live with alterations to their diets afterwards,â€? said Dr. Midis. In addition, Harville said, patients can no longer lie on their back after a meal because “we take away all the protective mechanisms for things to reux back. Gravity is their friend once they’ve had a meal.â€? Still, Harville said, most patients are able to get back to doing the things they want to do after surgery. “Now, their diet is a little different,â€? he cautioned. “But I would say 85 percent of people will get back to almost their normal diet. It’s just because now their stomach, instead of being a big weigh station for food to drop into, it’s now a tube, and they can’t hold as much food, so their meals have to be smaller. But they also need to be careful because normally your stomach functions to neutralize everything.â€?
TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS - THANK YOU! For more than 50 years, members of the Fort Sanders Regional Volunteer Auxiliary have helped support the mission of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. During National Healthcare Volunteer Week, we UHFRJQL]H HDFK RI RXU YROXQWHHUV IRU WKHLU VHOÀHVV FRPPLWPHQW WR RXU SDWLHQWV VWD̆ DQG GRFWRUV
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Want to know more about volunteering at Fort Sanders Regional? Call (865) 541-1249 or go to fsregional.com.
NORTH/EAST Shopper news • APRIL 15, 2015 • 3
Blenza Davis
Photo by Cindy Taylor
as former principal at Sarah Moore Greene School, where she served for 18 years. In her 10 years since retirement, she has continued to promote education. Davis is a board member of Project Grad and works closely with University of Tennessee professor Dr. Bob Kronick to promote full-service community schools. “To me, full-service schools go back to Africa where the entire village worked to make children successful,” she said. “I have so much faith in Dr. Kronick that if he jumped off a cliff I would be right behind him because I would know it was to help some kids.” She is currently sharing her expertise sitting on numerous boards and committees dealing with education issues. But none is closer to her heart than her vision to establish a museum to honor the life and contributions of Sarah Moore Greene, namesake of Cindy the East Knoxville school. Taylor “Before Ms. Greene passed away, she wanted her legacy to be a foundation to help students at Sarah Moore Greene said. “This is how I try to School,” said Davis. “I was live my life. It brings me allowed to save and catalog some of her belongings, and personal happiness.” Davis is probably best these will be used to start a remembered by the public museum about her.”
A museum for Greene is Blenza Davis’ vision Blenza Davis is on a mission to bring her vision to Knoxville. She starts each day at 5 a.m., helping an incarcerated nephew get his associate degree and caring for an elderly aunt who has diabetes. She is quick to deny that she is capable of doing anything on her own and gives all credit to God. “God commands us to love Him and love our neighbor as ourselves,” she
Zoo. Info: Paul Ruff, 696-6584.
COMMUNITY NOTES ■ Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association. Info: Ronnie Collins, 637-9630. ■ Beaumont Community Organization. Info: Natasha Murphy, 936-0139. ■ Belle Morris Community Action Group meets 7 p.m. each second Monday, City View Baptist Church, 2311 Fine Ave. Info: www.bellemorris.com or Rick Wilen, 524-5008. ■ Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association meets 6:30 p.m. each last Tuesday, Administration Building, Knoxville
■ Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association meets 7 p.m. each third Tuesday, Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail. Info: http://edgewoodpark.us./ ■ Excelsior Lodge No. 342 meets 7:30 p.m. each Thursday, 10103 Thorn Grove Pike. Info: Bill Emmert, 933-6032 or w.emmert@att.net.
Monday, Central UMC, 201 Third Ave. Info: Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, lizupchurch1@ gmail.com. ■ Inskip Community Association meets 6 p.m. each fourth Tuesday, Inskip Baptist Church, 4810 Rowan Road. Info: Betty Jo Mahan, 679-2748 or bettymahan@ knology.net.
■ First District Democrats meet each first Monday, Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway. Info: Tony Brown, 973-4086, or Evelyn Gill, 524-7177.
■ Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association meets 6:30 p.m. each third Thursday, Community Club House, 916 Shamrock Ave. Info: Bill Hutton, 773-5228 or s_wlhutton@ yahoo.com.
■ Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization meets 6:30 p.m. each second
■ Old North Knoxville meets 6:30 p.m. each second Monday, St. James Episcopal Church Parish
Born in 1910, Greene left a 100-plus-years’ legacy that includes that of longtime educator and civil rights activist. She was the first African-American member of the Knoxville City Board of Education and was instrumental in establishing local community schools. Greene was quoted as saying that her greatest strength was her concern for people less fortunate. Davis says Greene performed unbelievable service for children in Knoxville schools. She thinks Greene was a shining star whose light must be preserved, and a museum would do just that. Davis is working with the Rev. Renee Kesler, a professional instructor in her own right, and Beck Cultural Exchange Center, where Davis volunteers, to establish a location for the museum. Donations already have been received, and Davis hopes the museum will progress quickly. “The museum is in all our visions and we are working on our mission,” said Davis. “We would love to open the museum on Ms. Greene’s birthday. This is still in the planning stages, but it is going to happen.” Contact Cindy Taylor at ctaylorsn@gmail. com
Hall, 1101 N. Broadway. Info: Andie Ray, 548-5221. ■ Parkridge Community Organization meets 6:30 p.m. each first Monday except holidays, Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St. Info: Jerry Caldwell, 3299943. ■ Second District Democrats meet 6 p.m. each second Thursday, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 Cecil Ave. Info: Rick Staples, 385-3589 or funnyman1@ comic.com. ■ Thorn Grove Rebekah Lodge No. 13 meets 7:30 p.m. each second and fourth Monday, 10103 Thorn Grove Pike. Info: Mary Jo Poole, 599-7698 or mjp1101@aol.com.
community The Muse
From page 1
Dante Carreno makes music on an electronic harp during a visit to The Muse Knoxville by Dandridge Elementary School. Photos by Bill Dockery
included a throwaway line in their just-released report suggesting that The Muse might relocate to World’s Fair Park. A map included in the report suggests that the children’s museum might find a home at the corner of Western Avenue and 11th Street. The museum was founded in 1976 as a space for community meetings and student art exhibits. By the early 1990s, it had grown into the East Tennessee Discovery Center, with science exhibits in the building and an outreach program that took science and other educational programs into local schools. Knox County Schools was a major supporter for a time. In the meantime, Kittrell was part of a group formed in 2011 that began to envision a large, interactive children’s museum for the city. “The group developed a business plan for a large museum,” Kittrell said. “They raised money for a master design, which was completed in 2013.” The boards for the Discovery Center and The Muse
merged in September 2013. The new board raised funds to renovate the Chilhowee Park facility and reopened that November. Further renovations have followed, including refreshed exhibits and a new public access playground. The reinvestment has produced the dramatic increase in visits, Kittrell said. “We’ve taken a very calculated approach to messaging what we’re doing,” she said. “We are very thoughtful about bartering promotions and website presence with other organizations. Now we need more word-ofmouth. I think we’ve turned a corner and the public is more aware that we exist.” With the increasing visitor traffic, Kittrell said that The Muse is rapidly outgrowing its current space. “We need 50,000 square feet, and we need to identify our next building,” she said. “We love East Knoxville, and we love downtown. We don’t know where we are going, and we’re not committed to go. We have lots of exciting possibilities.”
Melanie Wood adds finishing touches to a painting on the terrace outside her studio. Photos by Anne Hart
Melanie Wood ens, vegetables and other gastronomic subjects. Another room is filled with paintings of the Smokies, Tellico and other favorite spots in East Tennessee, including a rooftop view of downtown Knoxville that depicts the Sunsphere reflecting autumn’s golden colors. In the garden room where she does her painting, there is inspiration in abundance: cat and dog paintings and a happy one of a Raggedy Ann doll created by her daughter. Melanie, who is a native of Texas, and Tom, a Mem-
Termites?
From page 1 phian, met while students at UT. They lived most of their lives in Houston, traveled the world and moved to Knoxville when Tom retired a dozen years ago. It seems he has done anything but retire, though. His wife keeps him busy helping frame all of that art. Info: www.melaniewoodart.com or 865-212-4809.
Ayres Hall at UT as painted by Melanie Wood.
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4 • APRIL 15, 2015 • Shopper news helping hand that makes the DeBord arrangement logical. DeBord determines quarterback philosophy and $369,750 raise plus camp strategy. Sheridan implesupplement and bonus pro- ments details. What Sherivisions. Sheridan, 26, son dan contributes creates of an NFL coach, once a time and space for DeBord walk-on quarterback with to roam the practice field the Wolverines, is obscurity and coordinate the offense. personified, a graduate asAmazing what goes on sistant at Tennessee after a behind the screen. I and othbrief rocket ride flamed out. ers who wondered what in Nick was the official the world Jones was thinkquarterback coach at West- ing didn’t attach proper sigern Kentucky and South nificance to Sheridan. He is Florida ahead of his time, a/the quarterback coach. It relatively soon after he was so happens he and DeBord old enough to vote. speak the same language. OK, so he got fired. That Nick was a reserve QB Willie Taggart’s team went at Michigan when DeBord 2-10 certainly wasn’t Nick’s was a coordinator there. fault. Taggart, the head DeBord and Bill Sheridan, coach, called plays. Nick’s dad, were together on UT connections (Mike the staff at Ann Arbor. They Vollmer was a former ad- have known each other at ministrator at Michigan; least forever, maybe longer. Zach Azzanni was offenButch Jones, being from sive coordinator at Western Michigan, knew all about all Kentucky when Sheridan those connections. He knew got his first best job) redi- the association would funcrected Nick to Knoxville last tion smoothly before the year. He performed well. rest of us (I in particular) He wasn’t able to save Jusfigured it out. tin Worley’s season, but he Alas, now we all know helped Dobbs do what he why Butch gets paid more. did. Marvin West invites reader reaction. His Sheridan is now the address is westwest6@netzero.com.
DeBord now de ’man I have sort of switched sides. I was once a doubter, never a certified critic, but I am now a Mike DeBord advocate. In the beginning, I was surprised that Butch Jones would try to pass off his old friend, a line coach, as a quarterback guru. Solicitation of supporting quotes from famous names was phony as a $20 Rolex. Remarks were obviously scripted. That magical transformation still generates skepticism, but it no longer matters. DeBord is going to be a better offensive coordinator than was the previous good guy, Mike Bajakian. I don’t know why Mike II wasn’t here earlier. He was available. DeBord can help Don Mahoney identify and instruct offensive tackles – which improves the chances of gaining a yard when a yard is critical. DeBord can assist Robert Gillespie as needed with running backs – which im-
Marvin West
proves the odds on gaining tough yards. DeBord can help all concerned, starting with Jones, remember and embrace the proven concept of getting the football to playmakers. DeBord can help win games. After all that is said and some of it becomes reality, Nick Sheridan can help DeBord in the refinement and polishing of Joshua Dobbs and basic instruction of young quarterbacks. Presto, all will soon be right in Tennessee’s football world. The Vols may not lose another game. It is just a matter of two more Michigan men working closely together. DeBord, 60, got the billboard treatment and the
Cumberland complaints
grow louder
If the first week of construction on the Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project is a sign of what’s to come, business owners and their employees, workers at two nearby hospitals, plus West Knox and Alcoa Highway motorists getting into and out of downtown better hunker down for a long, bumpy ride. The project has begun with utility work in the
Betty Bean
westbound lanes of Cumberland and on side streets between Volunteer Boulevard and 22nd Street, where the road has been narrowed to two lanes.
“I really felt sorry for the guy at the Exxon station,” said Joe Kirk, landlord of the Cumberland Avenue Starbucks. “He was barricaded in. Nobody wanted to let the cars coming down 22nd Street out, and customers couldn’t get in.” “It’s going to be like a two-and-a-half year blizzard,” said Copper Cellar Corp. CEO Mike Chase, who opened The Original Cop-
per Cellar on Cumberland Avenue in 1975. “Nobody comes out during a blizzard. On Wednesday night, our business was off 30 percent.” That, coincidentally, is the amount of traffic planners aim to take off the stretch of road known as The Strip – permanently – to make the area pedestriTo page 9
Lowe fallout ripples across state Former Knox County Trustee Mike Lowe entered the K n o x County Detention Center April 11 to begin a one -yea r term he Mike Lowe plea-bargained for stealing at least $200,000 while in office. Now auditors are tightening up personnel practices statewide in the wake of Lowe’s plea and a jury conviction of his employee Delbert Morgan, who was paid for time not worked. This case has dramatized the random personnel practices of elected officials across the state. Indulge me a moment … in 1998 this reporter broke a big political story by examining the paper timecards of employees of then-Circuit Court Clerk Lillian Bean. We published photos showing days marked “V” for vacation, “S” for sick, and “LB” for comp days given to those who worked a political day for Bean, such as selling soup beans during the Museum of Appalachia’s annual homecoming. Bean was subsequently defeated by Cathy Quist Shanks. Obamacare also puts pressure on counties to maintain accurate personnel records, according to Union County Mayor Mike Williams. Employers now must provide IRS
Sandra Clark
form 1094-C, showing an offer of employer-provided health insurance based on hours worked. Williams said he understands why elected officials might not want to come under a county personnel policy, and they are not required to. “But if they want their own (policy), it must be in writing and consistent.” If Union County can adopt a unified personnel policy, why can’t Knox County? Showing up should be the baseline. No more ghosts. No more “work from homes.” No more comp time for electioneering. No more “comp time” at all. And consistent vacation/sick leave. It’s not fair to the employees who show up and work hard to carry these freeloaders on the public payroll. And while we welcome state auditors to the game, it should not fall to underfunded auditors or the random reporter to ferret out abuse. Private businesses monitor work time and pay for production. Government must do no less. Sandra Clark has published The Shopper since 1971 and hopes someday to get it right. Contact: 865-661-8777 or sandra.clark@ShopperNewsNow.com.
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Shopper news • APRIL 15, 2015 • 5
Making Knoxville bike-friendly Austin McLaughlin recently moved here from Denver. While he thinks Knoxville folk are friendly in general, he doesn’t see that in the way we drive. His 1.5-mile bicycle commute to the University of Tennessee can be harrowing, depending on how he hits the lights.
Wendy Smith
Jon Livengood, alternative transportation coordinator for the city, discusses the Bicycle Facilities Plan with Brian Blackmon, project manager of the city’s office of sustainability. Photo by Wendy Smith
“It never feels safe,” he admits. Austin was one of approximately 100 who attended the presentation of the final draft of Knoxville’s Bike Facilities Plan, which ranks 120 proposed projects within the city limits. The purpose of the plan is to “advance Knoxville as a city where biking is safe, convenient and a desirable mode of transportation for residents and visitors.” The plan, prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates and Toole Design Group, identifies bike routes that could be enhanced by new bike lanes, greenways and road markings. The estimated cost of all 120 projects is $38 million, but Ernie Boughman of Toole
Design Group emphasized that the document is for planning purposes only. None of the projects will happen without community buy-in. Why should we buy in? Unlike Austin, most of us would be too frightened to commute via bicycle. That’s the problem. Knoxville isn’t a bicycling community because it isn’t safe to cycle here. And we will likely be slow to finance expensive facilities, like bike lanes, because we’re not a bicycling community. It’s a classic circular argument. Austin describes Denver as progressive and outdoors-oriented. Motorists respect cyclists there because they’re used to seeing
them on the road, he says. He thinks motorists are unfriendly to cyclists here because driving is a necessity in Knoxville. That’s currently true. Knoxville is a sprawling, suburban city. It’s also true that more cars are being added to our roads every day. Even those of us who will never pedal to work can see the benefit of some of those cars being parked while their owners ride to work. The perks of being a bike-centric community go beyond safe bicycle commutes. Knoxville would be fitter, rather than fatter, and our reputation for being outdoorsy, like Denver, would be enhanced. Visitors would come. They
would spend money. The city’s Bicycle Facilities Plan is a blueprint for how to interrupt the circular argument for why we aren’t bike-friendly. Boughman told those at the meeting that other cities have successfully implemented bike plans by creating momentum. People need to talk about, and champion, the proposed bike facilities. Momentum is also created by getting facilities “on the ground,” he said. The first project on the list is new bike lanes on Chapman Highway. The estimated bill for the project is $666,500, but state and federal funding could cover up to 80 percent of the cost of new bike facilities. The plan recommends three phases, each more expensive than the last, over a 10-year period. That model works because communities tend to get on board after they see the positive impact of increased cycling, he said. As Boughman says, we don’t have to eat the whole elephant at once. We just need to take the first bite. Let’s encourage our elected officials to move our city toward being a bike-friendly community. Review the Bicycle Facilities Plan at www. cityof knoxville.org/ bicycleplan.
Patrol car/taxi educates about DUI You’re driving down a city street when you see one of Knoxville’s finest coming toward you in a classic blueon-white squad car. Instinctively, you let up on the gas, grip the steering wheel a little harder and glance at the speedometer to see how far above the limit you were.
Bill Dockery
By the time you look up, the cruiser has passed, so you glance in the rearview mirror to see if it’s turning around and – it’s gone! The only thing visible in the mirror is a yellow taxi, headed in the other direction. You’ve just had a sighting of the Knoxville Police Department’s latest educational tool: a patrol car with the traditional police livery on the front half, but painted like a yellow cab on the back half. It’s specifically designed to persuade you that it’s much cheaper to call a cab than to be caught driving while intoxicated. “We’re trying to let
Captain Bob Wooldridge shows off the patrol car/taxi used by KPD to educate the public about the costs of driving while intoxicated. Photo by Bill Dockery
people see that they have a choice,” said Capt. Bob Wooldridge, who works in safety education for the department. “We recommend that if someone has an adult beverage, they should never drive – they should call a cab.” Slogans decorate the taxi end of the vehicle – “Call a Cab” and “Booze It & Lose It” – as well as a calculation of what a cab ride will cost you: “$2 to get in, $2 per mile.” The numbers spelled out on the hood of the patrol car let you know how much your ride will cost if you are busted for DUI. Including fines, loss of license, DUI school, bail, insurance, law-
yer fees, etc., the total for a first offense quickly grows to almost $19,000. “It’s a wonderful educational resource,” Wooldridge said. “This car has gone viral.” KPD officers take the half-and-half car to carnivals, safety fairs, schools, the Knoxville Zoo and neighborhood watch meetings. It draws a crowd anywhere it shows up, giving officers a chance to talk about crime prevention, especially those crime and safety issues associated with driving under the influence. “We had it out on the Cumberland Avenue Strip for all of UT’s home football games. It was very popu-
lar,” he said. “I drove it to a Chick-fil-A and people filed out of the restaurant to look at it. “We’ve had people pull up beside us at stoplights and snap pictures.” Wooldridge, who joined the department in time for the 1982 World’s Fair, said that the cruiser-taxi is the most popular resource he has seen in his 33 years with KPD. “This is our way of being proactive,” he said. “It’s part of our mission to make stronger, safer neighborhoods in the city of Knoxville.” Patrol officer Travis Shuler brought the concept to the department, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Office quickly bought in. The department took delivery in October 2014. An Internet search showed that several cities across the country are using a similar vehicle. It’s usually parked at the KPD offices at 2422 Mineral Springs Ave. in North Knoxville, but Wooldridge said the department is happy to bring it to community meetings and other special events. The safety education unit can be reached at 2151510.
Greenways lacking under Rogero The 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Lincoln was yesterday (April 14), and the 150th anniversary of his actual death is today. One can only speculate how American history might have been different had he completed his second term instead of his vice president, Andrew
Victor Ashe
Johnson, a former mayor of Greeneville, Tenn. ■ Greenway advocates are perplexed at the limited progress in the construction of greenways in Knoxville under Team Rogero. She has personally been missing in action on this issue as she was with the 911 Board for the first three years of her term. She does not meet with the Greenways Commission or the greenway coordinator on any regular basis. Consequently, the only significant city-built greenway in her first 3.5 years as mayor is the one on Cherokee Farms called the Knox Blount Greenway, going from Buck Karnes Bridge to Marine Park at 2201 Alcoa Highway. As of this writing there has not been an official opening or announcement, but the greenway is built. There is no entry at the Buck Karnes Bridge; however, there is parking at Marine Park, which is a county park, and one could easily walk on the greenway from there. The road at the bridge is about 25 feet above the greenway with no means of walking down to it. There is no signage at Marine Park, and a yellow ribbon is in front of part of the entrance. However, one could easily bike or walk on this fully completed greenway
despite no announcement. It dead-ends at the bridge where one would have to turn around and return to Marine Park. The Greenways Commission is chaired by the very able Brian Hann, who is the new Will Skelton when it comes to greenways. Several commission members are frustrated with the snail’s pace at which things are moving. The Urban Wilderness in South Knoxville was built by private efforts. Remember the First Creek greenway that Mayor Rogero proudly announced in her first budget message in 2012? It is now almost four years later, and it is not completed or open. Clearly Team Rogero talks the talk but fails to walk the walk when it comes to greenways. Major big-time excuses and no action. Until the mayor shows personal interest, greenway construction will move at a glacial pace. Even with the infusion of $1 million from last year’s major property tax hike for greenways, little has happened that is visible. ■ Governing Magazine honored Mayor Rogero in its March issue with a photo and mention as a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018. Rogero is term-limited if re-elected mayor this September. ■ Meanwhile, businesses on Cumberland Avenue are losing customers due to the construction underway. It almost amounts to a city-sponsored “taking” without compensation. One wonders when the city and council will address this issue of getting folks to Cumberland Avenue. How much inconvenience must occur before someone speaks up? ■ The two mayors will soon announce their choice for MPC director. The committee has made its recommendation. Victor Ashe is a former mayor of Knoxville and U.S. ambassador to Poland. Contact him at: 865-523-6573 or news@ ShopperNewsNow.com.
GOSSIP AND LIES ■ Gov. Bill Haslam was grand marshal for the Mule Day Parade in Columbia. Actually, this is good news. At least he didn’t march behind the mules. ■ Sen. Bob Corker actually cut to a commercial while being interviewed on WBIR’s “Inside Tennessee.” Corker does a smoother transition than sometime-host Mike Donila. He’s had more experience on TV. ■ State Rep. Ryan Haynes will do a good job as state GOP chair. But why in the world does he want the job? Legislators wield power and earn less than $30K. State GOP chairs raise money and earn $100,000+.
PRAYER GATHERING Tuesday, April 21 7 pm - 8 pm at Charis in Action 7212 Oak Ridge Highway Street Hope and streethopetn.org Creating awareness of trafficking of children in TN and across the nation
6 • APRIL 15, 2015 • Shopper news
A troop of macaques scrambles for survival in “Monkey Kingdom.”
Kevin James can’t escape his true calling in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.”
Monkeys, murders and mall cops vie for audiences By Betsy Pickle This week’s movie lineup spans four very different worlds. Disneynature brings us “Monkey Kingdom,” an intimate look at toque macaques on the island of Sri Lanka. Filmmakers follow a low-ranked macaque dubbed Maya as she scrambles to survive – and to make a better life for her child. Timed to honor Earth Day, “Monkey Kingdom” is narrated by Tina Fey. For every ticket sold during opening week (April 17-23), Disneynature will make a donation to Conservation International to help protect monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitats. Opening exclusively at Downtown West, “True
Story” is based on a true story (duh). Jonah Hill plays a disgraced journalist who forms an uneasy alliance with an accused killer, played by James Franco, who claims to have been living as the reporter. Trying to get at the truth, the journalist puts his marriage – and possibly more – at risk. The cast also includes Felicity Jones, Gretchen Mol and Robert John Burke. In “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” the title character finally takes a well-earned vacation, heading for Las Vegas with his teenage daughter before she goes off to college. But he’s not the kind of guy to take a holiday when trouble arises, which it does. Kevin James returns as Paul Blart from the original 2009 comedy. The cast
includes Raini Rodriguez, Daniella Alonso, Neil McDonough, D.B. Woodside, Nicholas Turturro, Ana Gasteyer, Bob Clendenin and Shirley Knight. A dead girl reaches out to her former classmates in “Unfriended,” a new twist on horror. While six friends are video chatting one night, they receive a Skype message from beyond the grave, and they soon believe they are dealing with a supernatural power. Hoping to do for online chat what “The Blair Witch Project” did for video recorders, “Unfriended” goes into R-rated territory to scare viewers. The cast includes Heather Sossaman, Matthew Bohrer, Courtney Halverson, Shelley Hennig and Moses Jacob Storm.
Video-chatting proves dangerous for a group of high-schoolers in “Unfriended.”
Jonah Hill tries to dig the truth out of James Franco in “True Story.”
Shopper news • APRIL 15, 2015 • 7
Mackie’s back in town By Carol Shane
“The Threepenny Opera,” opening tomorrow night (April 16) at the Clarence Brown Theatre, is not exactly the feel-good family fun event of the year. But it’s hugely popular for a reason. Newsweek magazine has even called it “the greatest musical of all time.” At the center of it all is Macheath, one of the most famous antiheroes in the world of stage musicals. He’s the one Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sang about in “Mack the Knife.” The lyrics have been called “violent and seedy” by NPR’s Murray Horowitz, and it’s fair to say the rest of the show can be described the same way. It is, after all, about a class struggle between the haves and the have-nots. Adapted by dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill from “The Beggar’s Opera,” written by John Gay in the 18th century, the musical debuted in Berlin in 1928 and was instantly popular. By the time Brecht and Weill fled Hitler’s takeover of Germany in 1933, it had been translated into 18 different languages, with thousands of performances to its credit. Central to the play is Weill’s score, infused with the spiky, swinging rhythms of jazz and blues. And this time, instead of hunkering down in the orchestra pit, the band will play onstage. “It’s definitely exciting to have the costume and makeup experience!” says Melony Dodson, who covers a variety of instruments on the synthesizer for the production. Dodson, known to
Brian Herriott as Macheath and Lise Bruneau as Jenny Diver in Clarence Brown Theatre’s current production of “The Threepenny Opera”
weekender FRIDAY-SATURDAY ■ The 5th Woman 2015, 8-10 p.m., Ula Love Doughty Carousel Theatre, 1704 Andy Holt Ave. Info/tickets: www.eventbee. com/event?eid=168526933.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY ■ The Threepenny Opera, Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage, 1714 Andy Holt Ave. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Info/tickets: www. clarencebrowntheatre.com.
Photo submitted
SATURDAY-SUNDAY ■ Orchid show and sale, Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave. Hosted by the Smoky Mountain Orchid Society. Admission free. Info: smos@frontier.com or www. smokymtnorchidsociety.com.
FRIDAY many as the host of WUOT’s Morning Concert, says her last experience playing onstage was in “Tommy” in 2009. In the current production, she says, “The band is like the house band in an old, beaten-down theater. It’s dark, falling apart and perhaps a little shady. We’ve all, including most of the actors, seen better days.” Dodson is intrigued by the orchestral scoring. In the original productions, seven players covered a total of 23 parts, including some unlikely instruments. “So,” says Dodson, “someone is supposed to know how to play guitar, bandoneon, cello and banjo.” CBT music director Terry Silver-Alford will share duties this time with visiting music director Michael Elliott, musical theater coordinator at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Silver-Alford will play key-
board and conduct. “The orchestration is haunting and dissonant – a German music-hall sound with an edge,” he says. “The musical numbers don’t function the same way as in a traditional musical. They are often very presentational and serve as commentary in the ideas or themes in the story. Brecht often used music as a ‘distancing effect’ to keep the audience reminded that they are in a theater watching a show.” He’s enjoying what he calls a “mélange of styles,” ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to tango to jazz. CBT’s artistic director, Calvin MacLean, directs the show. Anyone in his position has his hands full, but in this case, along with the usual formidable responsibilities, he had to choose – from a long list – an English translation from the original German. “We chose
Robert David MacDonald’s translation with lyrics by Jeremy Sams because of its clarity and wit,” says MacLean. He especially likes the song translations because they have “Brecht’s biting irony and humor. The play text makes the action clear, and the dialogue has Brecht’s insightful commentary but with a contemporary edge.” As Macheath sings near the end, “What’s picking a lock compared to buying shares? What’s breaking into a bank compared to founding one? What’s murdering a man compared to employing one?” “The Threepenny Opera” runs through May 3 and is recommended for mature audiences. For more information, visit clarencebrowntheatre.com or call 974-5161. Send story suggestions to news@shoppernewsnow.com.
Blue Cheese and Walnut Pizza By Mystery Diner
Market Square and one at the Gallery Shopping Center. Tomato Head began almost 25 years ago as a lunch-only spot in a struggling Market Square. Called the Flying Tomato, the restaurant was open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. Owner Mahasti Vafaie didn’t really want pizza on the menu. The space she was renting, however, had a pizza oven that the landowner didn’t want to move, so a tradition was born. Vafaie made fresh bread and desserts each morning and jumped in as a supporter of the arts and neighborhood. Her business and influence on Market Square grew as the
■ Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, “Pastorale,” 7:30 p.m., Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay St. Part of the KSO Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series. Tickets: 291-3310; www. tennesseetheatre.com; at the door. ■ Dancing for the Horses, 6 p.m., Grande Event Center, 5441 Clinton Highway. Local stars paired with professional dancers compete before a panel of celebrity judges. Fundraising event for Horse Haven of Tennessee. Info/tickets: www. horsehaventn.org/dancing. ■ Knoxville Skies Star Show, 4:30-5 p.m., The Muse planetarium, 12804 Pecos Road. Tickets: $2. Can purchase without museum admission. Info: www.themuseknoxville.org. ■ Midnight Voyage Live: TAUK, 9 p.m., The International, 940 Blackstock Ave. Info/tickets: www.intlknox.com. ■ The Black Cadillacs, with Sol Cat, Johnny Astro & The Big Bang, 8 p.m., Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay St. Info/tickets: knoxbijou.com.
SATURDAY ■ Breaking Beats with Themed DJ Set by Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte, 9 p.m., The International, 940 Blackstock Ave. Info/ tickets: www.intlknox.com. ■ EarthFest 2015, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., World’s Fair Park. Activities include scavenger hunt, live music, activities and crafts for kids, Mercury thermometer exchange, exhibits and more. Free event. Info: www.knox-earthfest.org. ■ Kukuly and the Gypsy Fuego perform, 8 p.m., Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave. Vintage jazz. Tickets: $12, some discounts available. Info/tickets: www.jubileearts.org. ■ River & Rail Theatre Inaugural Fundraiser and Preview, 7:30 p.m., Emporium Center for Arts and Culture, 100 S. Gay St. Free admission. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided. RSVP requested. Info: 407-0727; info@ riverandrailtheatre.com.
Tomato Head Should there be a test before you are allowed to get married that the two of you have to be able to share a pizza with only minor substitutions? That’s probably not a good idea. I have heard some happy-looking couples order “half and half” pizzas that shouldn’t be allowed in the same room, much less on the same crust. “Ummm, we’ll have the large Hawaiian. Hold the pineapple on her half and the ham on mine. Add pepperoni on one half and figs on the other …” If you want a pizza with flavors you never thought you would like but are absolutely delicious, go to Tomato Head. There is one at
■ Alive After Five concert: Leftfoot Dave & The Magic Hats, 6-8:30 p.m., Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive. Tickets: $10; $5 for members/students. Info: 934-2039.
■ Tennessee Valley Doll & Toy Show, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Holiday Inn West, 9134 Executive Park Drive. Antique to modern. Tickets: adults $6; ages 1-12 free. Info: www.knightshows. com. ■ Three Rivers Rambler Springtime Express Steam Train Rides, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Three Rivers Rambler, Volunteer Landing. Info/reservations: www.ThreeRiversRambler.com.
At Tomato Head, this pizza features a white sauce with blue cheese, walnuts, Roma tomatoes and ricotta cheese. Photo by Mystery Diner
downtown area did. There is a lot more than pizza on the menu. The sandwiches offer flavor combinations that make you scratch your head before you order, then pat your stomach afterward. The homemade soup choices are often a happy surprise, and the vegetarian offerings aren’t just for vegans.
The Blue Cheese and Walnut Pizza is one of the restaurant’s white pizzas. The white sauce is a perfect backdrop for the blue cheese, Roma tomatoes and ricotta cheese to shine. The walnuts add not only flavor but a good crunch. The pizza is delicious. Share it with someone you love – no substitutions!
SUNDAY ■ Bill Burr: The Billy Bible Belt Tour, 8 p.m., Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay St. Tickets: all Ticketmaster locations, www. tennesseetheatre.com. ■ Brahms Requiem, 6 p.m., Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre, Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville. Presented by the Knoxville Choral Society and the Carson-Newman A Cappella Choir. Tickets: adults $20, students $10; available at the door. Info: 981-8263, www. claytonartscenter.com.
Celebrating an event? Share your family’s milestones with us! Send announcements to news@ShopperNewsNow.com
FULTON HIGH SCHOOL BAND g Featurin ts Local Ar and Crafts!
g i n r Fair p S
Saturday, April 18 • 9am - 4pm Space donated by
Knoxville Fulton High School • 2509 North Broadway Upper parking lot behind the football field Use the entrance off of Woodland Avenue
OVER 30 VE NDORS! FAVORITE V ENDORS INCLUDING:
Home Decor Items, Essen tial Oils, Scentsy, Kitts Kandies, Lilla Rose, Crafty Momm as, AVON and Beauty All Aro und, Mary Ka y, Younique, Cra fty Creations , Paparazzi, Str anger Things , Posh, Hunny Hush, Functional Fa shions, Pamp ered Chef, Tony Karnes local Horror A rtist, Tupperware, and many m ore!
kids
8 • APRIL 15, 2015 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news
Talian Troutman, Kaylynn Wells, Taygen Troutman and Telanie Troutman race to the finish line during a sack race at East Knox Elementary.
Camdyn Seal shows off her Hula-Hoop skills during East Knox Elementary’s health fair. Photos by R. White
Health fair features fun, safety East Knox Elementary hosted a health fair for students last week, opening the school to parents later that evening. Inside the lobby were games for the kids, including an egg race, jump-rope contest, Hula-Hoops, three-
Brooklyn Seal is a jump-roping pro at the health fair.
Ruth White
legged race and sack race. The gym area was set up with booths featuring information on safety from the sheriff’s department, the Epilepsy Foundation and Medic, plus booths from Knoxville TVA Credit Union, Girl Scouts, Smoke-
Free Knoxville and more. During the day session, students learned the proper use of dialing 9-1-1, discussed bike safety, learned about good oral health and found out how to recognize poisonous plants.
Sugar Plum and friends from ‘Shrek’ In last week’s Shopper-News, the Sugar Plum Fairy (pink hair) from Holston Middle School’s performance of “Shrek the Musical Jr.” was misidentified. The Sugar Plum Fairy was played by Katelyn Mundt.
presented by Regal Entertainment Group, a fun event to benefit the Autism Society of East Tennessee
6:30 to 10:00 p.m. Green Magnet Academy teacher Edward Moore shows guests a display on creating art through coordinates. Pho-
5210 Kingston Pike
tos by R. White
Tickets are $50 and include: Live Entertainment by Tall Paul Cajun Shrimp Boil by The Shrimp Dock Complimentary wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages Side dishes and dessert Admission to the silent auction
For tickets, visit www.shrimpboilforautism.com
E BENEZER C OUNSELING S ERVICES
All proceeds benefit the Autism Society East Tennessee, a nonprofit that provides support, services, advocacy, education, and public awareness for all individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families as well as educators and other professionals throughout 36 East Tennessee counties.
■
STEAM night at Green Magnet
Green Magnet Academy faculty welcomed parents and community members to see the wonderful work of their students on STEAM night. Artwork and creations lined the hallways, the library featured learning activities using Lego blocks, and experiments by the older students were on display upstairs. Some of the work by fourth- and fifth-grade students included fraction quilts, phases of the moon, closed electrical circuits, geometrics and looking through a camera lens. The school curriculum features science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Keioshana James shows her guests the puppet (above her right shoulder) that she created for the play “The Boy That Cried Wolf.”
Teacher Ann Kimble works with Evan Puleo using Lego blocks to create short vowel sounds during Green Magnet’s STEAM expo.
business
Shopper news • APRIL 15, 2015 • 9
Volunteers at FISH Pantries Many people know FISH Hospitality Pantries as a nonprofit organization providing free food for Knoxville families in need. A job may have been lost, a family member may be sick and medical bills piling up, grandparents may have the unexpected responsibility of caring for grandchildren – there are any number of reasons a family may need help. However, feeding the hungry is not the only service provided at FISH. “You teach me/I teach you” is a program that enables new immigrants and native English speakers to learn from each other. For immigrants, learning English is of utmost importance for them to survive in their new country. English-speaking
Nancy Whittaker
participants learn Spanish or other languages, fostering a feeling of acceptance for everyone. Volunteer Emma Ellis-Cosigua facilitates the program. At age 13, Ellis-Cosigua didn’t speak English and was forced to move to Brooklyn, N.Y., from Guatemala in 1976 after an earthquake destroyed her community. She remembers how badly she wanted to go back home. Determined to learn English, she now
FISH volunteers Emma Ellis-Cosigua and Lissy Myers
Photo by
Nancy Whittaker
feels she is drawn to FISH because of her childhood experiences. She knows the importance of being able to
communicate. “New people can share their struggles in a safe place where people can help each other,” says
Ellis-Cosigua. She has been a volunteer for two years. Lissy Myers has been a volunteer at FISH for almost seven years. Of German descent, Myers was in a Communist concentration camp in Yugoslavia and knows what it’s like to be a child and to be hungry. “Since I experienced hunger myself, I knew I wanted to help other people,” says Myers. “The first day I was a volunteer at FISH, I went home on a high.” Convincing her husband, Joe, to volunteer “just one time” was not easy. Recently retired, he did not want to give up his golf days. He reluctantly went with Myers on her second day and has been a volunteer ever since. Lissy works primarily with Boost Bags, a program
that started four years ago. Only natural or organic nutritional foods are included in the bags, which are given to children under 18. The Community Chest section of FISH provides clothing and shoes for $1 each. Household items are also priced way below market value. Chris Berney has been a volunteer as manager of the Community Chest at 122 W. Scott Ave. for four years. His mother, Barbara Berney, manages the main location at 1508 N. Central St.. Donations help cover expenses such as utilities and can be dropped off at either location. For information on how you can become a volunteer or make a donation, go to www.fishpantry.org or call 523-7900.
Plant guy talks design By Sandra Clark Jack McCoy has a big smile and a heart for kids. He’s going to make somebody a great employee someday. Heck, he’ll probably start his own business. Jack is a student of landscape design at UT, a member of the class of Dr. Garry Menendez that’s looking over plans for expanding the Powell Station Park. And in his spare time, Jack works at Stanley’s Greenhouses and Plant Farm. While he may shovel errrr … mulch at work, he was a hero to the dozen kids in the newspaper club at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy. Jack talked about his college major, showed sketches of his landscape designs
named Jack McCoy had a fun contest about who could draw the best tree. We left the teachers in to vote while we planted flowers. But when we got back, we asked who won and he said, ‘Everyone. You all won.’ “In about a week our little trophies will sprout out of the ground. “Next week you will hear about our journey to WBIRTV, Channel 10, to meet (teacher April’s husband) Mr. Lamb.” Hmmm. Was wondering why two kids started their paragraph with “Hey” but then remembered – when I teach people to write a lead, I say, “Pretend you’re leaning over the back fence to tell your neighbor what we did.” And I always start that sentence with “Hey.” Oops!
Photo by Eddys Garcia
Cumberland complaints an- and bicycle-friendly. To that end, sidewalks will be widened and the four-lane Strip – perhaps the most heavily traveled street in the city – will be narrowed to two traffic lanes separated by a median, with spaces for left turns at selected intersections. The plan began with the Knox Regional Transportation Planning Organization, was adopted by the Metropolitan Planning Commission and City Council in 2007 and was enthusiastically championed by then-council member Joe Hultquist, who called it his “legacy project” when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2011. Its estimated completion date is August 2017. Its cost doubled after Mayor Madeline Rogero snatched away $10 million earmarked for widening Washington Pike near Murphy Road and redirected it to Cumberland Avenue in hopes of attracting a bidder after nobody responded to the first request for proposals. Ronnie Collins, president of the Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association, has mixed feelings about the money swap. On one hand, he says it’s just another example of empty promises to help the East side; but on the other hand, he thinks it may be a blessing because, “It may kill a project (Washington Pike) we are not sure is good for the community. We’re not sure because we can’t get any information about ideas and plans for the project.”
our plants again.” Jatoria White wrote about hearing Wesley Mills’ (who lives across the street) dog bark. His dogs are named Sophie and Nakita. Wesley wrote about “kicking holes in the dirt,” referring to our lack of a spade. We kicked holes and dug them out with plastic spoons. This won’t make our greatest-hits slide show. Eddys Garcia is working on irony: “Hey, Jack made a fun contest out of drawing a tree and then we planted seeds for colorful flowers … and the most hilarious thing was we digged with tiny spoons. “He landscaped our minds and our garden!” Destiny Woods always sums up a program well: “Hey, a landscape artist
From page 4
Jim Bletner, a longtime Sequoyah Hills area neighborhood leader who has lived or worked near Cumberland Avenue since 1958, said he’s highly dubious about the project because so many things have changed since the original study: UT-ordered street closings, new housing creating demands for more parking space. “I think it may go down in history as one of the biggest boondoggles in this community.” Chase, who has had to fight off city, state and even the federal government to protect his businesses over the past 40 years, said he’s frustrated to hear city officials complain that business owners didn’t speak out soon enough. “I’m just getting too old to fight,” he said. “But they’re pushing me that way.” Chase has a suggestion. He says it’s not too late to allow three lanes of traffic – an eastbound lane, a westbound lane and a turn lane that would serve as an additional rush hour traffic lane eastbound in the morning, westbound in the afternoon. Bob Monday, who owns property leased to FedEx Office and Walgreens, said he expects this construction project to have the same effect on Cumberland Avenue businesses as Henley Bridge construction had on Chapman Highway, only worse. “Business on Chapman Highway is beginning to come back. On Cumberland, it won’t.”
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HEALTH NOTES ■ The Alexander Technique, An Introduction, 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, Knoxville Healing Center, 313 N. Forest Park Blvd. Preregistration with confirmation is required. Info/registration: Lilly Sutton, 387-7600, or www.AlexanderTechniqueKnoxville.com.
CLAIBORNE MEDICAL CENTER | CUMBERLAND MEDICAL CENTER | FORT LOUDOUN MEDICAL CENTER FORT SANDERS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | LECONTE MEDICAL CENTER | METHODIST MEDICAL CENTER MORRISTOWN-HAMBLEN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM | PARKWEST MEDICAL CENTER PENINSULA, A DIVISION OF PARKWEST MEDICAL CENTER | ROANE MEDICAL CENTER
8800-06682
Jack McCoy talks with Malaya Thomas.
and led a planting expedition outside to put bulbs in the courtyard. Keeping in mind that we’re working with our five senses, listen to some quotes: “The bulb was crunche (sic),” wrote Malaya Thomas. “Jack is a landscape artist who is AWESOME,” wrote Safari Bahati. “We planted seeds and talked about it. Jack goes to college, and he demonstrated planting techniques. And we dug a little hole to plant (our bulb),” said Mirna Cardenas. “I saw a different type of seed,” wrote Jada Byas. Madison Thomas noted, “I felt soft dirt and smelled leaves. It was hot – very hot.” Another kid said, “It was so much fun, I hope we see
10 • APRIL 15, 2015 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news
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THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 Applications accepted for the Great Smoky Mountains Trout Adventure Camp for middle-school girls and boys, sponsored by the Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited to be held June 15-20 at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Info/applications: http://www.tntroutadventure.org.
THROUGH SATURDAY, JUNE 20 Online registration open for Race to benefit the Corryton Community Food Pantry, to be held Saturday, June 20. Event is part of “The Run and See Tennessee Grand Prix Series.” To register: https:// runnerreg.us/corryton8mile. Info: corryton8miler@ yahoo.com; ron.fuller@totalracesolutions.com; or Joyce Harrell, 705-7684.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 International Folk Dance Class, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, Clinton. Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers. First visit free. No partner or dance experience required. Adults and children accompanied by an adult welcome. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724; www. oakridgefolkdancers.org; on Facebook.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16 “Plan Before You Plant: Maximizing the Output of Your Raised Beds,” 3:15-4:30 p.m., Humana Guidance Center, 4438 Western Ave. Presented by Knox County Master Gardeners. Free and open to the public. Info: 329-8892.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-18 “The Night of January 16th” presented by the Powell Playhouse at Jubilee Banquet Center, 6700 Jubilee Center Way. Thursday-Saturday evening: din-
ner, 5:30 and play, 7; Saturday matinee: lunch, 12:30 p.m. and play, 2 p.m. Tickets: $10 at the door; Saturday matinee only, seniors, $5. Dinner and lunch reservations required: 938-2112. Ticket info: Mona, 256-7428.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17 Celebration of the Young Child, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge. Admission: $6. Info: Carroll Welch, 4821074, ext. 105; www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org. Healthy U: Headaches Decoded, 10-11 a.m., Humana Guidance Center, 640 Plaza, 4438 Western Ave. Free and open to the public. Info: 329-8892, TTY: 711.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
$5 or $20 per family. All proceeds go to the youth group. Info/advance orders: 992-7222.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19 Walters State Community Band Spring Concert, 3 p.m, “Z” Buda Assembly Hall and Gymnasium. Admission is free. Info: 585-6922.
MONDAY, APRIL 20 Luttrell Seniors Lunch, 10 a.m., Union County Senior Center, 298 Main St., Maynardville. Bring salads or dessert to go with Subway sandwiches.
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
Boy Scout Troop 13 yard-sale fundraiser, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., near Fountain City Park. If rain, will move to Lions Club building at Fountain City Park. To donate items: Dave Ringley, RingleyDave@gmail.com, or Candy, 377-3908. Country breakfast, bake sale and white elephant sale, 7-10 a.m., Mascot UMC, 9426 Mascot Road. Sponsored by Mascot United Methodist Women. Info: 933-1236. Cystic Fibrosis Walk-A-Thon, 9 a.m., Wilson Park in Maynardville. Family Fun Day: Drawn from the McClung Museum, 1 p.m., McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Drive. Featuring activities, crafts, tours and more while exploring the new temporary exhibit, “Drawn from the McClung Museum.” Free and open to the public. Flea Market, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Loveland Baptist Church, 1320 Spring Hill Road. Rain or shine. Table rental: $20. Proceeds go to Nicaragua Missionaries. Fulton High School band art and craft sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., parking lot behind the football field, 2509 N. Broadway. “International Flavors,” 7:30 p.m., Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Oak Ridge Symphony. Tickets: $25, adults; $10 ages 1929; 18 and younger, free. Final concert this year. Knoxville Alzheimer’s Tennessee WALK, 9 a.m., UT Gardens, 2518 Jacob Drive. To register/donate: www.alztennessee.org/KnoxWalk2015. Info: 544-6288. New Life UMC Spring Flea Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 7921 Millertown Pike. Hot tamales, breakfast, lunch and more. Pancake Jamboree and Bake Sale, 8 a.m.-noon, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Broadway at Emory Place. Hosted by Northside Kiwanis Club. Tickets: $4; $10 for families up to 4. Proceeds to benefit Aktion Club of Northside, Knoxville at the Cerebral Palsy Center and Key Clubs at Central, Fulton and Halls high schools. Youth Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner, 5-7 p.m., Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, 4365 Maynardville Highway. Sit down and takeout available. Cost:
Halls Outdoor Classroom Celebration, 6-8:30 p.m., at the outdoor classroom. BBQ, homemade ice cream, s’mores, music by the Halls High Jazz Band, children’s activities and pie-eating contest. Everyone welcome. Healthy Cooking Demo: Gluten-Free and Egg/ Dairy-Free Recipes, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Humana Guidance Center, 640 Plaza, 4438 Western Ave. Free and open to the public. Info: 329-8892, TTY: 711. Honor Guard meeting, 7 p.m., 140 Veteran St., Maynardville. All veterans invited. Info: 256-5415.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 Biscuit & Gravy Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 a.m., Union County Senior Center, 298 Main St., Maynardville. Cost: $5. Info: 992-3292. International Folk Dance Class, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, Clinton. Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers. First visit free. No partner or dance experience required. Adults and children accompanied by an adult welcome. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724; www.oakridgefolkdancers.org; on Facebook. Preparing Your Book for Self-Publication, 6-8 p.m., Appalachian Arts Craft Center, 2716 Andersonville Highway 61 in Norris. Instructor: Kathleen Fearing. Registration deadline: April 15. Info: 494-9854 or www. appalachianarts.net.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 24-25 Rocky Top Bluegrass Festival, 5:30-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, George Templin Memorial Athletic Field, 214 N. Main St., Rocky Top. Performers: Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press, Lonesome River Band, Blue Highway, Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice, The Boxcars, Flatt Lonesome. Featuring arts and crafts and food vendors. Tickets: $25 Friday, $35 Saturday, $50 two-day pass plus tax; children under 10 free. Info/tickets/schedule: www. rockytopbluegrassfestival.com or 1-800-524-3602.
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BlueCross BlueShield Network S members are now in-network at all seven Tennova Healthcare hospitals. Good news! You now have in-network access to Tennova’s caring team of skilled medical professionals and our wide variety of medical services. Welcome to the family!
To find a doctor or for more information about our services, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682) or visit Tennova.com.
Make the right call. North Knoxville Medical Center • Physicians Regional Medical Center • Turkey Creek Medical Center Jefferson Memorial Hospital • LaFollette Medical Center • Lakeway Regional Hospital • Newport Medical Center
12 • APRIL 15, 2015 • Shopper news foodcity.com
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4
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99
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19
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11 Oz.
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4
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3
99 With Card
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4
• 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., April 15, Tues., April 21, 2015