NORTH / EAST VOL. 2 NO. 47
IN THIS ISSUE
Sally’s Alley
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November 26, 2014
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Crutcher center begins third decade
Sally Greene grew up in South Knoxville and received her degree in fashion merchandising. Immediately after graduation, Greene wanted to open her own boutique but had to put her dream on hold. Now she’s opened Sally’s Alley and you won’t believe the great clothes, unique jewelry and amazing prices.
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Read Nancy Whittaker on page 9
Vine Middle hosts principal for a day Junior League of Knoxville president Suzanne Prince took a break from her day job recently to be principal for a day at Vine Middle School. Vine principal Cindy White escorted Prince through the school to observe some of the great things happening there. The event gives community members a peek inside the learning experiences that students encounter on a typical school day.
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Read Ruth White on page 8
It’s all about Vandy How intriguing that Vanderbilt, the center of football ineptness, will determine whether this Tennessee season is a modest success or another sad failure. What Saturday comes down to is this: If the Vols can’t whip the lowly Commodores, they’ll be saddled with another losing record – five in a row. They’ll be home again for the holidays, twiddling their thumbs while winners accumulate bowl gifts and enjoy plum pudding.
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Read Marvin West on page 4
On becoming bike-friendly East and South Knox County led the way for our city’s award last week. Knoxville, along with 356 other communities, received the Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award from the League of American Bicyclists. This is the second time the city has been recognized for its bike lanes, designated bike routes and encouragement to bike through education and events, says Knoxville Alternative Transportation Coordinator Jon Livengood.
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The Crutcher center drills young students on the keyboard skills they will need for future academic success. Here Kobe Angel, Clinton Graham, Nikko McDonald and Nadia Stephens practice touch typing using Mavis Beacon software.
By Bill Dockery As October came to a close, an educational landmark in Burlington started its 21st year of enriching elementary students’ lives. Crutcher Memorial Youth Enrichment Center opened its doors to East Knoxville children in October 1994 as a living memorial to the Rev. Dr. W.T. Crutcher, who for decades was minister at Mount Olive Baptist Church. Crutcher was known for his commitment to young people, and the center was founded by his family and friends to cultivate the talents and intellectual gifts of Af-
rican-American youth in the city. The minister died in 1989. Willie C. Crutcher, Dr. Crutcher’s widow, is president of the organization, though she has cut back her activities at the center in recent years. “My father always reminded us not to forget the young people,” said Mae Blanche Moore, Crutcher’s daughter and one of the founders. “We didn’t open CMY to provide after-school care but to enrich the quality of life of these children.” The activities reflect that desire. In addition to homework help
Mae Blanche Moore, a founder of the Crutcher Memorial Youth Enrichment Center, counsels recent Crutcher graduate Kennedy Angel on career plans as she prepares for high school. Moore is a daughter of the school’s namesake.
and study skills, the center offers basic lessons in computer, piano, etiquette, reading and Spanish. CMY enrolled some 14 students from second through seventh grades this year. Bearden, Beau-
mont, Belle Morris, Chilhowee, Holston, Inskip and Vine are among the Knox County schools that have students in the center, To page 3
Sign Task Force moves forward after MPC slap By Wendy Smith Crafting a city sign ordinance that can earn a stamp of approval from both the scenic camp and the business community is no mean feat. That’s why the City Council’s Sign Task Force labored over the document for 2.5 years before seeking input from Metropolitan Planning Commission staff. MPC staff proceeded to spend four months examining issues like what percentages of window space can be used for advertising, how far signs should be from intersections and what to do about abandoned signs. That’s a total of almost three years of work invested since City Council appointed the task force to review the city’s outdated sign ordinance. That’s why it was a surprise when MPC Commissioner Art
Duane Grieve
Clancy made a motion at the Nov. 13 meeting to hire an outside consultant who could use the revised ordinance as “a framework, a platform, if you will, to write a new and comprehensive sign
ordinance.” City Council member Duane Grieve, chair of the Sign Task Force, didn’t see it coming. “I was surprised. It was totally unexpected.” In making the motion, Clancy acknowledged that, “with Solomon-like wisdom,” the task force was able to achieve consensus on the majority of the issues. But later, after saying he couldn’t understand how “even someone
as smart as Mark Donaldson” couldn’t write a window signage ordinance that made sense, he referred to the ordinance with the old adage, “You can polish a piece of excrement all you want and it will still be a piece of excrement.” MPC approved Clancy’s motion without discussing the staff’s comments. Grieve says the Sign Task Force crafted a better, well-organized sign ordinance in spite of the fact that members have a variety of backgrounds and opinions. Task force appointees were approved by City Council, and effort was made to give neighborhoods, the Knoxville Chamber and Scenic Knoxville a voice. Grieve is a former Scenic Knoxville president, and task force member Joyce Feld is the organization’s current president.
The group was able to reach a compromise on the height of pole signs, one of the more contentious elements of the ordinance. They voted 6-2 in favor of limiting the height of signs near the interstate to 40 feet, and all others to 30 feet. The current ordinance allows all signs to be 50 feet. Meetings have been well-attended because each member is dedicated to the cause, Grieve says. “We have a great respect for one another. People speak their minds. There were disagreements, but we still produced a good product.” During an interview last week, Clancy said he thought Scenic Knoxville was underrepresented on the task force. He thinks the only way to have consensus is to To page 3
Read Wendy Smith on page 5
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Members of the Carter High School A Cappella Choir join the Dickens’ Carolers at Lights Up!, a tree-lighting holiday party at Pinnacle at Turkey Creek. Pictured are Noah Fawver from Carter; Phil Campbell, Andrew Halloway, Nancy Hodges and Sarah Holloway with Dickens’ Carolers; and Kendall Condra, Katelyn Dailey and Alli Houser, all from Carter High. Photo by Justin Acuff
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