ª¥e@þ /@áìÓe@þ s@ Û» /ì¥e@þ ²Ą@ Ü» ü@× ª¥ þ /nÓû [n @¥e ìQn S ª×ne /ì¥e@þ ÛĄã ,@Ó ü@þ /nû nÓû nb 1!
½sÜ ¾ és Ą¦¦¦
VOL. 4 NO. 40
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
BUZZ
Knoxville Utilities Board has launched a redesigned website that is available for users online or with mobile devices. It allows realtime updates on power restoration during storms as well as enabling customers to report power outages. KUB encourages its customers to visit the improved www.kub.org. As always, KUB continues to be available by telephone at 524-2911 for questions or service needs.
homecoming festivities Miss A-E Alisha Montgomery and Mr. A-E Robert Higgins wave to the crowd as their float rolls along the parade route. The pair will serve as ambassadors for the school this year.
Austin-East homecoming queen Janiyah Rowans waves to the crowd as she prepares for the annual parade down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Photos by Ruth White
North/East Economic Development: The conversation begins By Sandra Clark Give Nick Della Volpe a round of applause. The fast-talking City Council member from District 4 – Holston Hills to Fountain City and most points between – pulled together neighborhood groups and businesses to discuss what Art Cate consumers want and what business owners need to deliver it. Some 150
➤
Read Marvin on page 5
(865) 922-4136 NEWS (865) 661-8777 news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Ruth White ADVERTISING SALES (865) 342-6084 ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Amy Lutheran | Patty Fecco Beverly Holland | Tess Woodhull CIRCULATION (865) 342-6200 shoppercirc@ShopperNewsNow.com
folks showed up at O’Connor Center. Four focus groups evolved to discuss: the Magnolia Avenue corridor; the Broadway corridor (downtown to I-640); Fountain City; and the area around Knoxville Center mall. Mayor Madeline Rogero will roll out the city’s plan for the Broadway corridor restoration on Nov. 1, said Art Cate. But the volunteers on the planning committee will get a sneak preview at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at St. James Episcopal Church. “We want to give motorists a reason to stop, and improve
public transportation in our area,” Cate reported. And the elephant in the room is the former St. Mary’s Hospital, now operated by Tennova Health Care and soon to relocate to Middlebrook Pike. “There’s a million square feet, heated with an antiquated boiler system. How can that building be repurposed?” Doug Minter reported for the Magnolia Avenue corridor group – the evening’s largest. To page 3
Thomas flips out over Rountree resolution
On to the Aggies Marvin West writes: “Some of my Baptist friends believe in predestination. “If this Tennessee team makes it to 7-0, I may join them.”
Jalyn Harper rides on the class of 1992’s Dr. Seuss-themed float during the parade.
By Betty Bean
On Monday, the school board considered a resolution opposing the use of state testing data to determine teacher evaluations and student grades. The vote will come today (Oct. 5). Sponsored by Amber Rountree, the measure drew a harsh rebuke from interim superintendent Buzz Thomas. Rountree said she is perplexed by his reaction. “I proposed a very similar resolution last year – some of the language is verbatim, and the board passed it 7-2 or 8-1. This was during the state testing debacle, and we were asking that the data not be used, so I guess Buzz’s tone was a little surprising,” Rountree said. The “debacle” she mentioned was the confusion and delay caused by the state’s inability to process the numbers in time for local school districts to issue grades and evaluations. “I try to conduct myself, at meetings and in public, by the adage of speaking truth and love. I hope we can disagree and still have a collegial discourse about it.”
We Offer:
revise the evaluation procedures and get rid of things that are unfair. I agree with her, but I’m not sure this is the way to go about it.” Norman expressed some surprise at the tone of Thomas’ letter – “He really cut Amber’s legs off” – and observed that the unity between new board members (who supported Mike McMillan for board chair in August) and incumbents who voted for Terry Hill is in disarray: “The coalition is fragmented at the moment. We haven’t even got to square one – we don’t have a chair yet,” he said, referring to last month’s deadlocked vote between McMillan and Hill (board member Patti Bounds was absent). McMillan has since removed his name from consideration, and the board will vote again this week. “Let’s get first things first. Let’s decide on a chair; then you start bringing other stuff up,” Norman said. Letter is posted on our website: www.ShopperNewsNow.com/category/betty-bean/
CANTRELL’S
• Complete inspections, maintenance & repairs for all air conditioning & heating equipment • Money-saving high-efficiency system upgrades! • FREE ESTIMATES on new equipment • FINANCING through TVA E-Score programs
• Maintenance plans available.
Thomas sent a letter to board members labeling Rountree’s resolution “ill-advised” and predicting that it would damage relationships with state and local elected officials, particularly Education Commissioner Candice McQueen, whom he said is entitled to “the benefit of the doubt.” He praised Questar, the state’s new testing provider, which worked with the state last year to create an “optional” assessment for secondgraders, and put Rountree’s motives on blast: “In conclusion, the proposed resolution does not sound like a school district that is aspiring to be the best in the south or even in the state. It sounds like we are making excuses. We need a good standardized test each year to tell us how we are doing compared to others across the state and the nation,” Thomas said. New board member Tony Norman said he agrees with Rountree about testing policy but thinks the resolution may be premature. “I think the evaluation system is completely jacked up, and ultimately, her endgame is to
HEAT & AIR “Cantrell’s Cares”
SALES • SERVICE • MAINTENANCE 5715 Old Tazewell Pike • 687-2520 Over 20 years A+RATING experience WITH
MEMBER GREATER EAST TENNESSEE
Call for your Fall maintenance today!
KN-1290835
KUB polishes, updates website
October 5, 2016
Parade kicks off
SOUP at Kerbela Knoxville SOUP will reach a high point (physically) at its Oct. 6 version. The quarterly crowd-funding event will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kerbela Temple, 315 Mimosa Ave., nestled on the hill overlooking the former Baptist Hospital site. At SOUP, up to four individuals or groups from throughout Knox County make a short presentation on planned or current projects designed to benefit the community. Attendees, who are asked to make a suggested $5 donation at the door, listen and then discuss the projects while enjoying a simple meal of soup and other goodies. Everyone gets to vote on the project they feel is most worthy, and the winner gets the entire take from the door. There also will be a raffle with exciting prizes. Doors open at 6 p.m. Presentations begin at 6:30, with dinner starting around 7:15. July’s SOUP had about 134 attendees and raised more than $700 for the South Knoxville Community Center’s fitness center to get a new treadmill. Based on a concept that has spread nationwide, Knoxville SOUP is presented locally by the South Knoxville Alliance. It is held on the first Thursday of each quarter at alternating locations. Info: knoxvillesoup.org
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
2 • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • Shopper news
health & lifestyles
Follow through
Cozadds keep moving with help from Fort Sanders Regional How do you respond when your orthopedic surgeon guesses that you’re not very good at golf? Phil Cozadd, 75, took that diagnosis in stride, because the doctor was right. Paul Yau, MD, could tell that the Tellico Village resident had trouble turning at the hip. Yau surmised that would affect a golf game. Phil and his wife have been active for years and have taken great care of their health, which has allowed them to enjoy many adventures in retirement. But last fall the arthritis in Phil’s hip began to bother him more than it ever had before. Then on Dec. 31, 2015, the couple set off on a hike, took a wrong turn, and ended up trekking nine miles of trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “The next day he could barely walk,” Lyn Cozadd says. The couple began the process of elimination to find a nonsurgical treatment that would cure Phil’s pain. There wasn’t one. When he was told it was time to seek out a surgeon for a hip replacement, he didn’t argue. The Cozadds had an advantage in that Lyn had been a board member for a community hospital in the city where they lived before retirement. She knew what she wanted in a hospital and in a surgeon for her husband, and she knew how to find it. Research and intuition led her to Dr. Yau, a board certified physician who specializes in replacement of hips and knees. His specialty practice keeps him current with the latest surgical techniques and advances in orthopedic care. They also decided Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center was the best option for Phil’s procedure. Dr. Yau replaced Phil’s hip on April 27 of this year. “It just couldn’t have been a nicer experience from the very beginning,” Phil says, “from going to see Dr. Yau for our first appointment, to the valet parking, to everybody in the hospital, just all the way down the line. It was really terrific.”
System-Wide Telephone Downtime Tuesday, October 25 10pm Eastern - (9pm Central) Downtime of two to three hours expected for telephone transition. Downtime will impact the following locations: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Cumberland Medical Center Fort Loudoun Medical Center Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Fort Sanders West LeConte Medical Center Methodist Medical Center Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System Parkwest Medical Center Peninsula Hospital campus Roane Medical Center Centerpoint campus Dowell Springs Family Care Specialists Lake Brook campus Topside campus
Phil Ph hili C ozaad oz add d (r (rig ight ht)) st stri rike kess a ca casu sual al Cozadd (right) strikes casual pose as he sits in a golf cart with his wife, Lyn, but it’s a pose that would have been impossible before anterior hip replacement at FSRMC.
Phil Cozadd was back on the golf course for nine holes just three weeks after hip replacement surgery at FSRMC.
Rapid recovery The Cozadds had done their homework, and knew they wanted a surgeon and a hospital that would accommodate a very specific type of procedure. “Dr. Yau does the anterior hip replacement, and that was the only thing Phil and I were going to entertain,” Lyn explains. “The anterior approach to hip replacement allows surgery to be performed in a space between muscles and tendons,” Yau explains. “Newer instruments allow placement of tried and true implants in a less traumatic fashion, resulting in an easier recovery, and a hip that feels more natural.” Phil says the pain was minimal, and when you ask the Cozadds how Phil’s recovery went, Lyn speaks up first. “What recovery?” she jokes. “He was on the golf course in three weeks.” Phil interjects, “That was nine holes, and
Our Phone Numbers are Changing Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center All phones and fax numbers will change from 541 to 331 prefix. • Includes downtown locations of Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, and physician offices on campus.
To learn more, please visit: www.covenanthealth.com/phone-transition.
therapists. Because Fort Loudoun is a member of Covenant Health, it was easy to make the transition from the hospital in Knoxville to therapy that was closer to home. One particular appointment with Dr. Yau in Knoxville resulted in the surgeon personally demonstrating stretching exercises he wanted Phil to do in the next phase of therapy. When Lyn demonstrated those same exercises to the therapists, a new protocol was created within minutes to get the job done. While Phil is still working on his golf game, his hip is one thing that doesn’t hold him back on the golf course. He and Lyn are also hiking as much as 20 miles a week. It’s important to note that Phil was in good physical condition before surgery. That increases the odds of a successful recovery process, and anyone considering joint replacement surgery should keep weight under control, eat right and get plenty of exercise. “We had a wonderful, wonderful experience with Fort Sanders Regional, and I can’t say enough about Dr. Yau,” Lyn says. Phil smiles in agreement, then says simply, “It’s nice to have a new part.”
five weeks after surgery I played 18 holes.” To learn more about orthopedic procedures at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, visit fsregional.com, or call 865-524-5365.
Covenant Health Connectivity The Cozadds also give a lot of credit to Fort Loudoun Medical Center’s physical
Direct Anterior Hip Replacement – a new approach with great results
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is among only 15 percent of U.S. hospitals with the staff and facilities available to perform the latest approach in hip replacement surgery, called “Direct Anterior Hip Replacement.” In this procedure, the surgeon goes through the front (anterior) portion of the hip, instead of the side or back. This allows the surgery to separate important muscles and tendons instead of cutting through them to position a new hip joint implant. “When I first started doing hip replacement surgery this way, I thought it was just another option to access the joint, but people have done amazingly well Paul Yau, M.D. with this approach,” said Dr. Paul Yau, an orthopedic surgeon with Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. “With traditional hip replacements, we have to cut muscles or tendons, which prolongs the recovery process and may require limitations on hip motion,” said Yau. “It is common to hear patients being told not to bend at the hip more than 90 degrees, squat, reach to the floor or cross your legs after hip replacement because it would risk a dislocation. “With the anterior approach, none of these typical ligaments are cut, which means all of these common activities are safe, immediately after surgery,” Yau explained. The anterior approach does require a specialized surgical table and intraoperative X-rays. “The specialized table allows for safe leg
placement not possible with a traditional surgical table,” said Yau. “This unique table improves access to the hip joint and permits the use of intraoperative X-rays to ensure accurate implant position. “Traditionally, leg length discrepancies are a well-known complication after total hip replacement. The use of live, real-time imaging during surgery allows the surgeon to make both legs balanced and symmetric in length,” he said. “This means the implant will last longer. I no longer say you have to be a certain age to get a hip replacement.” With the anterior approach, most patients will only need one night in the hospital to recover. “Some people even go home the same day,” said Yau. “People recover so much faster it’s unbelievable.” Yau said he began doing the anterior surgery routinely about three years ago, and uses it today for about 95 percent of his hip replacement and repair surgeries. “It does require special facilities and a trained staff, which we have at Fort Sanders. There are a lot of moving parts to the surgery and they all need to be coordinated or you’ll have issues,” he said. Studies have backed up Yau’s opinion of anterior hip replacement. “You know how progress tends to happen in increments?” he asked. “I want to say this is a giant leap instead of an incremental one in orthopedic surgery. I haven’t seen anything this dramatically improve people’s outcome from surgery, ever.” For more information on direct anterior hip replacement, call 673-FORT or visit the website at www.fsregional.com/orthopaedics
Regional Excellence: SURGERY Fort Sanders Regional’s surgical capabilities are transforming the surgery experience for patients in East Tennessee. From the area’s first robotically-assisted surgery system, imageguided brain and spinal cord procedures, to our brand new hybrid operating room, Fort Sanders Regional provides patients more options and the best surgical technology available.
865-673-FORT
fsregional.com/surgery
community
NORTH/EAST Shopper news • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • 3
Almost 30 historic homes will be featured on the Parkridge home tour. Photos by Carol Z. Shane
The Olssons’ magnificent Victorian home will be featured on the Oct. 8 home tour. On the porch, Kelli holds daughter Juniper.
Dogs Jeff and Edith, along with their owner Jennifer Montgomery, in the 1923 Craftsman bungalow they call home
Parkridge Neighborhood to offer peeks inside historic homes Photographer Kelli Olsson, who moved to Knoxville from Athens, Ga. when her husband Tore received an appointment as professor of history at UT, says of her 1889 home in the Parkridge neighborhood, “We were absolutely blown away by what we were able to get for the money.� The couple, who welcomed daughter Juniper 19 months ago, admits that the big Victorian with all the trimmings wasn’t what they originally had in mind. “When my husband
Carol Z. Shane
walked in the door for the first time, he said, ‘Nope,’� says Olsson. But since they both love biking to work and shops, they were sold on the up-and-coming intown Parkridge neighborhood, and the house grew on them. Now they are very
much at home there. The home will be one of about 30 open to the public on October 8. Present-day Parkridge encompasses the early Edgewood subdivision, which contains many houses designed by Knoxville’s famous 19th-to-early-20th-century Victorian house architect George F. Barber. This tour features a variety of homes with a focus on Barberdesigned houses as part of Knoxville’s 225th birthday bash. Craftsman-style homes are also included.
Jennifer Montgomery, co-owner of Trotta-Montgomery Real Estate, bought her 1923 Craftsman bungalow 15 years ago. “Things had evolved downtown and there was a lot more activity.� With her Realtor’s eye, she knew an up-and-coming neighborhood when she saw one. Both the Olssons’ and Montgomery’s houses have been on the home tour before. “The first time, I didn’t have ceilings!� Montgomery laughs. The Historic Parkridge
Neighborhood Home Tour runs from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $12 on the day of the event. Children under 12 are admitted for free. Parking is available at the Ashley Nicole Park, 620 Winona Street, and tickets may be purchased there until 4 p.m.
the day of the tour. Advance tickets may be purchased at Last Days of Autumn Brewery, Three Rivers Market or online at www.parkridgecommunity.wordpress.com. Bicyclers as well as walkers are welcome on the tour. Info: historicparkridge@ gmail.com or 865-4064364.
North/East development State Sen. Becky Massey sat in on the Magnolia Avenue group, opting to listen more than talk. She grew up in East Knoxville. “Is there a way to spawn the coffee shops and bakery businesses that we see in other parts of town?� Minter asked. Residents asked for dental services and a bike shop. “We need to collaborate with Legacy Parks Foundation to create co-ops (like those in South Knoxville). We need access to greenways.� The Fountain City group was chaired by City Council member Mark Campen and A new sign on the lawn of the Greater Warren AME Zion Church lets the community know of the Burlington community food John Fugate, president of pantry. Pictured are Erby Harris, Jackie Gallman, Bruce Taylor, Linda Allmon, Betty Bush and Charles Thompson. Photo by Ruth White Fountain City Business and Professional Association. Justin Sterling reported for the “Exit 8� group, the area around Knoxville Center mall. “Change our name,� was a common cry with most residents preferring the Thanks to a $5,000 Church attendee Erby knows that the group is be- worn out, but they all agree former name of East Towne grant from Food Lion, the Harris volunteers at the pan- ing obedient to God through that it’s a great feeling to mall. Burlington food pantry has try because he wants to give giving back. “We feed the help others. The food pantry received a much-needed back to the community. He hungry, fellowship with them is open from 4-5 p.m. every makeover. The grant al- helped refurbish the pan- and pray with those who third and fourth Thursday lowed pantry volunteers try and was one of the team ask,� he said. “We do it for the of the month. The church to purchase a new freezer members who built the pan- goodness of the people.� and pantry are located at and refrigerator, computer, try’s new outdoor sign. The work at the pan- 3800 Martin Luther King printer and supplies to build Trustee Bruce Taylor try often leaves volunteers Jr. Blvd. a new awning and to paint walls and floors in the area. The food pantry has served the Burlington community for close to 15 years, distributing food boxes to those in need. Coordinator Jackie Gallman said that the group’s goal is to do better, but in the end they want to do something great. In addition to food, the pantry offers clothing and distributes basic toiletry items.
Serving the community through food, fellowship
Senior
From page 1
Sterling said the McDonald’s is being renovated, and “We’re excited about the new mall ownership.� Sterling’s group asked for trolley stops to move people through the business district that’s grown up around the mall itself. A 24-hour grocery was requested. Della Volpe said, “It’s important to start the conversation.� He said a list of items mentioned will be posted on the city’s website. Meanwhile, Kelle Jolly, jazz singer and radio personality, added some sparkle at the meeting’s end. “Are there grants to rebrand a neighborhood?� she asked. “We are multicultural with all kinds of food. We are people who live creatively with our neighbors.� She garnered several high fives after the meeting. And Della Volpe concluded the 3-hour conversation with this comment: “We’re tired of being ignored. We’re going to take charge of our community.�
Lunch
NEW LIFE UMC Saturday Oct. 8th
Help us celebrate Tamale Time
with a chili cook-off, dessert making contest, vendors, rummage sale & games! Open from 8 am to 2 pm. Food served from 11 am to 1 pm.
For more information, please visit our website at newlifeumcknoxville.com call 865-546-5153 or email NewlifeUMCKnoxville@gmail.com
New Life United Methodist Church 7921 Millertown Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924
All Seniors (ages 60+) are invited to a FREE monthly lunch series with lecture & workshop
All money made from this event helps fund numerous ministries of this church.
2
Tuesday of the month 11:30am-1pm nd
KN-1292625
New Life UMC, 7921 Millertown Pike, Knoxville TN 37924
For more information, please visit our website at newlifeumcknoxville.com, call 865-546-5153 or email NewLifeUMCKnoxville@gmail.com
KN-1292631
There will be $5 armbands which allow unlimited chili & dessert sampling along with either (1) tamale or (1) hotdog as available. Other food will be sold separately.
&Learn
government It’s time to decriminalize marijuana Last month, Nashville approved an ordinance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. Nashville police now have the option of issuing a civil citation for marijuana possession instead of a criminal one. Did Nashville make marijuana legal? No. Decriminalization is not legalization. Complete legalization would mean that a person could sit in their home and legally smoke marijuana. With decriminalization, those walking down the street with a marijuana joint in their pocket would still be breaking the law but could be issued a civil citation by police (something similar to a parking ticket) instead of a criminal citation. It’s a small step, but a good one. Here’s why. Under current law, possessing even a small amount of marijuana is punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in the county jail and a $2,500 fine. Criminal convictions have wide-ranging negative consequences. In addition to possible jail time, a criminal conviction often impacts employment and educational opportunities. It’s tough enough to find a good job in today’s economy. It’s even more difficult when you have a criminal record. Thanks to the internet, arrest records and mug shots linger on forever. Smoking a joint at a party or concert can haunt someone well into their future. Decriminalization is not a perfect solution. In fact, it probably doesn’t go far enough. Until we treat drug use as a public health problem instead of a criminal justice problem, too many lives will be shadowed by criminal convictions. Also, the discretion given to the police creates its own problems. Giving an officer discretion to issue either
Scott Frith
a civil or criminal citation can result in disparate outcomes for low-income and minority residents accused of a crime. Ultimately, our laws should reflect our values. If it’s OK for a kid to smoke weed in college, then it should be legal. If it’s OK for someone to smoke marijuana in the privacy of their own home, then it should be legal. Legalization, with regulations similar to tobacco or alcohol, would likely result in better overall outcomes than current laws. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that smoking marijuana is a good thing. I’m not a doctor. I’m the least qualified to discuss the pros and cons of marijuana versus tobacco or any other substance. However, the decriminalization of marijuana is a much-needed first step in accepting shifting social norms. Nearly 50 years after Woodstock, and as baby boomers enter retirement, it’s time for our laws to reflect that reality. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, after the decriminalization bill passed the Metro Council, released a statement: “This legislation is a positive step forward in addressing the overly punitive treatment of marijuana possession in our state that disproportionately impacts low-income and minority residents.” Mayor Barry is right. Nashville is showing leadership. It’s time for Mayor Madeline Rogero and Knoxville City Council to show leadership as well. Scott Frith is a local attorney. You can visit his website at pleadthefrith.com.
Legacy Parks Foundation’s big day Once again, Legacy Parks Foundation will draw a crowd of almost 1,000 civic, business and community leaders for its annual Legacy Luncheon for the Parks at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, along the bank of the Tennessee River at UT Cherokee Farm. Once again, executive director Carol Evans is close to a sell-out at the $100 lunch. You’d think she would move the event to a larger venue. But wait! It’s outdoors! Rick Ridgeway, noted mountaineer, will Carol Evans talk about his experience with big mountains, big business and big initiatives to preserve outdoor resources. Make reservations online or call 865-525-2585.
4 • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • Shopper news
Smith again claims education as campaign battleground Eddie Smith’s first campaign mail piece, a sunny, positive, oversized postcard praising the 13th District state representative for working hard to develop higher educational standards, hit two weeks ago. The next one came a week later and featured a group of happy kids studying a globe. A full-color shot of a smiling Smith appeared on the back, positioned next to a paragraph describing him as a torchbearer for better education. The bottom half of the card was the color of the Vols’ smokygray football jerseys with a black-and-white picture of an angry, open-mouthed Gloria Johnson looking for a child to devour. The scary gray part said Johnson – a Democrat and a retired special-education teacher who served a single term before Republican Smith unseated her in 2014 – opposes putting money into education, wants to trap kids in bad schools, would like for the feds to come in and take over and
Betty Bean doesn’t much care if kids get to go to college (all the better to eat them, probably). Both cards are paid for by Tennesseans for Student Success, an AstroTurf group that supports high-stakes, standardized testing closely connected to Gov. Bill Haslam. Two years ago, Smith won by 182 votes and was the beneficiary of an avalanche of negative advertising funded by “outside” corporate education reform groups, the most memorable of which was paid for by the pro-voucher Tennessee Federation for Children and compared Johnson to Lane Kiffin. Following the directive of GOP operative Karl Rove, Smith successfully attacked Johnson’s strength – education. He’s staking out the same ground this year.
In addition to the PACsupplied mail pieces (which by federal law cannot coordinate with his Johnson campaign), Smith sponsored a teacher roundtable at Fulton High School with state Education Commissioner Candice McQueen and a representative of Questar, the state’s new provider of standardized tests (the old provider got sacked when it couldn’t process end-of-term standardized tests in time for the results to be used in calculating student grades). Smith barred school board members and the media from the meeting because he didn’t want teachers to feel intimidated but invited several administrators to sit in, including Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Alves. It is a policy violation to allow campaign events in Knox County Schools,
but Smith billed this as an opp or t u n it y for teachers to learn more about the state’s new standardized Smith tests. Johnson succeeded Democratic incumbent Harry Tindell, who represented the 13th for 22 years and chose to retire rather than slug it out after the new Republican super majority redrew district lines and threw Sequoyah Hills and a big chunk of Republicandominated South Knoxville into the mix. Smith, a promoter of church music, made Johnson – who has since retired from teaching – a one-termer. She still enjoys the active support of many former colleagues and students who want to send her back to Nashville. In the words of the prophet Yogi Berra, it’s déjà vu all over again.
Off to Georgia (not the Bulldogs) This week I am in Tbilisi, Georgia, as an election observer for their parliamentary elections. The trip is sponsored by the International Republican Institute, a private, nonprofit group. IRI promotes democratic procedures, fair elections and participatory democracy as does its counterpart, which is the National Democratic Institute. Neither is part of the partisan RNC or DNC. Georgia was part of the former Soviet Union and is where Joseph Stalin was born. It has been an independent nation for 25 years with varying degrees of success. I was present four years ago in Georgia, also as an election observer for IRI, when parliamentary elections were held and resulted in the ruling party being swept out of office. It is our job to observe and report on what we see. If we see inappropriate actions in the conduct of the election we note them and report on them. We do not intervene with the holding of the election itself. Greg Mackay, who now works at Chilhowee Park, was an election observer when he ran the Knox County Election Commission. I have also been an election observer in Ukraine and East Timor (Asia). ■ Knoxville has had a sister-city relationship with Muroran in Japan since the 1990s. A Muroran delega-
Victor Ashe
tion is coming this weekend and will meet with Mayor Rogero in her office Friday morning at the City County Building. MPC Commissioner Gayle Bustin has assisted ably on behalf of the mayor in arranging a full schedule. Retired University of Tennessee professor Paul Watkins and his wife, Susie, will host a reception for them Friday, Oct. 7. There have also been student exchanges at the high school level where students have stayed in Japanese and American homes. ■ James Knight, another former ambassador, has moved to the Knoxville area. He just retired as ambassador to Chad and previously ambassador to Benin. The Tellico Village resident is a retired infantry officer who was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. He joins four other former ambassadors residing in the area: Cran Montgomery (Oman), Dee Robinson (Ghana), Margaret Scobey (Egypt and Syria) and this writer (Poland). ■ State Rep. Eddie Smith will present a check
for $30,000 for restoration of Talahi Park in Sequoyah Hills at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12. The money was part of the state budget, which Smith amended to include this funding. Public is invited. The Smith versus Gloria Johnson contest is expected to be one of the closest in the state on Nov. 8. The last two elections (2012 and 2014) in that district were decided by fewer than 200 votes each. ■ U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann turns 54 on Tuesday, Oct. 11. ■ Do not expect quick action on picking a successor to UT athletic director Dave Hart. UT will wait until a new chancellor is selected to replace Jimmy Cheek before a search committee is even named by the new chancellor to choose a new AD. That means January at the earliest. The new chancellor will also be looking for a new communications vice chancellor to replace Margie Nichols as well as a new provost to follow Susan Martin. ■ UT President Joe DiPietro announced recently the four members of a special commission to review Title IX resources and programs for UT. Three of the four live in Massachusetts, Connecticut and the Washington, D.C., area. The one Tennessean is from Franklin. None attended UT and there are no African-Americans on
the group, despite many UT athletes being AfricanAmerican. This is a glaring omission. While the news release did not indicate compensation, an inquiry from this writer produced the response that yes, there is compensation, but UT declined to respond that day as to the exact compensation, which appears to violate the open-records law. UT also declined to say then if the first meeting on Nov. 17 would be open to the public. Two days later, UT acknowledged each is being paid $45,000 plus expenses, and the meetings are closed, which triggered criticism. One wonders if UT is channeling studies like this through its law firm to lock out the public under the guise of attorney-client privilege. Why UT cannot give a direct answer to a direct question when asked is perplexing. It sends the wrong signal for an institution dedicated to education. Media relations on this issue are being handled by the Nashville law firm of Neal and Harwell, which has already been paid over $400,000, and the meter is still running. The total cost of the lawsuit settlement continues to rise with no end in sight. Victor Ashe is a former mayor of Knoxville and U.S. ambassador to Poland. Reach him at vhashe@aol.com
Volunteer as an ASPCA Adoption Ambassador today.
Adoption Ambassadors foster er pets and serve as adoption counselors rs on behalf of the shelter. elter.
For more information, contact Ashley Thomas at athomas@young-williams.org.
www.young-williams.org
Nix - Adopted: August 2016
Help Yo ung-Williams Animal Center find homes for more pets!
Shopper news • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • 5
Beck: The place where the community gets connected By Renee Kesler The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is “The Place Where African American History Is Preserved,” and even more it is “The Place Where the Community Gets Connected.” T h e Renee Kessler founders who created Beck in 1975 purposely did not call it the Beck Cultural Exchange Museum, though it is filled with archives, artifacts and exhibits and, indeed, Beck has always been dedicated to the preservation and conservation of history. Yet those great pioneers understood that it had to be more than a museum. After all, Beck was formed as the people’s project, and the people needed a place to gather and exchange with one another. Beck needed to be “The Place Where the Community Gets Connected.” What does it mean to be “The Place Where the Community Gets Connected?” Leaving Beck the other night, I believe I understood the answer to this question. The answer was sitting outside at the tables located in the rotunda area of the Beck, wrapped in coats and jackets in the cool of the fall evening with fingers tapping away on a laptop and a cell phone. While this was not an unusual occurrence, certainly – when I leave in the evenings there is always someone sitting in the rotunda, or on the lighted front porch, where there is always a table and chairs, or cars parked in
HOPE… Is a Powerful thing! It Can Change Lives and Make a Difference. It is the confident expectation of Good. Community members gather at the Beck. the parking lot, using the free wifi – it was the answer to the question. When I first arrived at Beck, the wifi broadband connection to the internet was locked with a passcode required to access. When visitors tried to connect their electronic devices they quickly discovered that they had no access to the internet. Further, while students from the local schools were excited to receive new electronic gadgets and devices that they could take home, the enthusiasm quickly dissipated once internet access was unavailable. Even though students had their own laptops or tablets, they fi led in quickly before the 6 o’clock closing hour to use the free Beck computer lab. Immediately, I contacted our internet service provider, requested an equipment upgrade with highspeed access and optimal range throughout the Beck campus, and, of course, the passcode was removed. The community now had access to free wifi at the Beck. So was that the answer? Is free wifi the true meaning to being “The Place Where
the Community Gets Connected?” I understood it to be more than that. Shortly after arriving at Beck, I met Victor Vlasyuk, and instantly we became friends. Victor lives in the community with his mom, Lyubov; they are from Ukraine. Victor and his mom, along with many others, are frequent guests to the Beck. Perhaps it’s the internet connection that keeps them coming, but I think there is something more to the connection. This summer, through a wonderful program, Victor became a paid Beck intern. It was a great summer, and Victor, who has a very contagious smile and sweet spirit, became a part of the Beck family and a tremendous help to me. Like so many of the young and seasoned people that come to Beck, Victor is connected to us and we are connected to him. And that’s the answer. “The Place Where the Community Gets Connected” truly means people gathering and exchanging with one another, the original intent of the founders of the Beck.
The Mission of Hope is an Appalachian Relief Ministry serving very depressed rural communities. Our Back To School Program provides new Backpacks and School Supplies to 28 rural Elementary Schools. We also take new Clothing, Toys and Food items to the same Schools with our Christmas Program. Realizing education is imperative to breaking the cycle of poverty, we also provide Scholarships to 13 rural High Schools, Alice Lloyd College and Lincoln Memorial University.
Team of destiny? Probably not
GOSSIP AND LIES ■ Donald Trump is no Ronald Reagan. I watched Ronald Reagan on TV for 10 years, and Trump is no Reagan. ■ Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, could well be Eleanor Roosevelt. ■ The Duncan Family Barbecue is coming up (5:30 p.m.
Marvin West
Pittsburgh Pirates 55-27, had a 91-60 edge in hits, batted .338 to .256, slugged six more home runs – and lost. Even then, I knew the inexplicable did not apply to football. Destiny is a quirky thing on gridirons. It often jumps around, depending on crisp blocking and tackling, especially protection for the quarterback, accuracy of his throws and how many linebackers knock the ball loose from runners and receivers. Injuries, penalties and fumbles lost and found can cause destiny to switch sides. “Team of destiny” does have an intriguing connotation. It might seem a logical explanation for success to those who do not understand what goes on behind the scenes – endless recruiting effort, fierce attention to details, year-round devotion to improvement, more strength, more speed, more explosion. Do everything right. Eat right. Even sleep right. And, above all, believe. Starting a day or two after the latest bowl victory, good teams work to win. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Civic Coliseum). As the Duncan family grows, it takes a little longer to shake hands on the way to the food. Entertainment this year is special: Mark Chestnutt, The Crown College choir and David West’s bluegrass band. Come have dinner with 10,000 of your best friends. – S. Clark
They sweat and strain to develop cohesion and confidence. They expect to prevail. Chances are somewhat better when smart coaches are involved. OK, now and then luck is a factor. It had to be luck when Jalen Hurd rescued the Dobbs overtime fumble, the one bouncing around in the end zone that crushed the life out of gutty underdog Appalachian State. That was Sept. 1. Good fortune emerged in the Battle of Bristol. The alarm clock went off. The Vols woke up. It could have been luck that Tennessee receivers miraculously stopped dropping passes in the second half against the Gators. Incidentally, Florida thought that was a fluke. And it said it was handicapped without its No. 1 quarterback. Sorry about that. Oh no, we didn’t call it luck in 1998 when an official dropped a flag for pass interference and gave the Vols one last chance to defeat Syracuse. It wasn’t luck that Florida missed that field goal or that our favorite Razorback, Clint Stoerner, fumbled just in time. That was the Big Orange national championship team. It made its breaks. Well, it might not have directly caused Florida State to get stuck with a sub quarterback. We’ll find out Saturday if this Tennessee team simply refuses to lose. Texas A&M in College Station will be an honest exam. Oh my, as for destiny, after that comes mighty Alabama, much too much. Or maybe not. Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com
We assist throughout the year with Resource Distribution through over 50 Mountain Ministry Centers in rural Appalachian Communities. We build much needed handicap ramps. We also serve healthcare needs, partnering with Rural Healthcare Clinics. Being a ministry, we’re also privileged to give out Bibles and Tracts and our Prayers. We welcome your help as we strive to serve those in dire need in rural Appalachia. YOU CAN HELP BY: • Food Drives • New Coats Drive • Financial Donations
For more information about The Mission Of Hope please call us at
Toll Free 877-627-1909 865-584-7571 www.missionofhope.org
DONATE NOW AT www.missionofhope.org P.O. Box 51824 Knoxville, TN 37950 Thanks for your friendship and support… and for helping extend The HOPE. The Mission of Hope is a fully tax deductible nonprofit (501c) Appalachian relief organization.
make a difference:
DONATE TODAY!
KNS845444
Some of my Baptist friends believe in predestination. If this Tennessee team makes it to 7-0, I may join them. Based on what the Volunteers did to Florida and Georgia, I will concede this group is beginning to feel just a little bit special. Never saw anything like that flipflop finish in Athens. Pity the poor Bulldogs. They went from extreme ecstasy to awful agony in just a few ticks. Corner Malik Foreman, hero a couple of minutes earlier, got beat deep and safety Micah Abernathy was no help. For Tennessee, all was lost. But it wasn’t. Joshua Dobbs did his Doug Flutie impersonation and Jauan Jennings was absolutely certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt, he was going to claim that Hail Mary as his very own. Yes, they practice this play but surely such an ending was once in a lifetime. I sort of expected Butch Jones to come up with a monumental proclamation but he reverted to favorite explanations – fortitude, resiliency, poise, character and just finding a way to win. There had to be something more. I never put much stock in magic or karma or team of destiny until the 1960 World Series. In seven games, the New Yankees outscored the
6 • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news
Samples leads Sunday service at Morning Pointe
SENIOR NOTES ■ Carter Senior Center 9040 Asheville Highway 932-2939 Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Jacob Samples, a recent graduate of The Crown College and a pastor at Temple Baptist Church, leads a church service at Morning Pointe in Clinton. Samples, originally from Ripley, W.V., moved to Tennessee to attend school, finishing his undergraduate degree in only three years. Now he is pursuing his master’s degree, stating that “he will serve the Lord wherever there is a need” after graduation. He and his wife and four children frequently spend time with the residents at the assisted living community. As part of the Life Enrichment Program, Morning Pointe invites local
Offerings include: card games; exercise programs; arts and crafts; movie matinee Fridays; Senior Meals, noon Wednesdays. Register for: UT Arboretum Walk, 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 901 W. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge; three-mile walk. Mobile Mammogram, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12; appointment: 305-9753. ■ Corryton Senior Center 9331 Davis Drive 688-5882 knoxcounty.org/seniors Monday-Friday Offerings include: exercise classes; cross-stitch, card games; dominoes, crochet, quilting, billiards; Senior Meals program, 11 a.m. each Friday. Register for: Field trip: Three Rivers Rambler excursion, noon Friday, Oct. 14. Flu shots, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. Super Seniors meeting, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11; entertainment, Grace Notes dulcimer group. ■ Larry Cox Senior Center 3109 Ocoee Trail 546-1700 Monday-Friday Offerings include: exercise programs; bingo; arts and crafts classes. ■ John T. O’Connor Senior Center 611 Winona St. 523-1135 knoxseniors.org/oconnor. html Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Offerings include: Card games, billiards, senior fitness, computer classes, bingo, blood pressure checks 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Senior Job Fair, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Oct. 12; part-time and full-time; info: 524-2786.
Madison Wright provides a personalized tour of The Pointe at Lifespring senior living facility.
By Ruth White Shirley Stout has been a supporter of the Fulton High School athletic department for over 21 years, and she continues to be a friendly fi xture at ballgames. Stout began helping out when her first grandson, Adam, attended FHS. She began to help out by assembling programs that were sold at football games, and her assistance grew to selling cotton candy at basketball games, making bracelets and necklaces as a fundraiser for the cheerleaders and just being a friendly face at games. “I love people,” she said. “I love to get hugs and give hugs from year to year.” Stout enjoys seeing students from years ago – who have grown and now have kids of their own – returning to support the Falcons. Her son, Pete, is an offensive line coach for the football team, and her
Touring
The Pointe at Lifespring By Ruth White
churches and organizations to enjoy fellowship and faith-based activities with the residents.
Fulton’s forever friend
Lora Patterson and Chris Taylor of Avalon Hospice participate in the hard-hat tour of The Pointe at Lifespring. Photos by Ruth White
Picture covered porches that open up to a beautiful and relaxing courtyard. Add a spacious dining area, salon, fitness center and Vibrant Life activities room. This is The Pointe at Lifespring, a senior adult living facility currently under construction close to New Harvest Park. The facility offered hard-hat tours last week, giving the community a sneak peek inside. The Pointe will offer 68 total units of combined assisted living and memory care apartments. The assisted living area offers a variety of room sizes, including
Jacob Samples
a deluxe one-bedroom, studio suite, and one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Shana Robertson, with 15 years of experience, is the executive director, assisted by Heather Haley and Madison Wright. New to the staff is Annie Smalley, RN, who was named last week. She will function as the assisted living director. Smalley worked for other assisted living facilities in Knoxville and Alabama. Her nursing degree is from Lincoln Memorial University. The concierge is Alisha Schulz. The Pointe is scheduled to open late 2016/early 2017. Info: 865-687-5353.
fall 2016
Shirley Stout has been a friend to the Fulton Falcons for over 21 years. Photo by Ruth White
granddaughter, Emily, is a Falcon cheerleader, so Shirley Stout’s work at Fulton is far from over. She is a forever friend and a Falcon for life.
october-November classes
p el l is sip p i s tat e c ommuni t y c ol l ege
Business & Community Services non-credit courses for continuing education
hardin valley campus Basic Jewelry Beading Learn the art of stringing beautiful beads together to create lovely bracelets and necklaces that you’ll be proud to wear or give as gifts.
Spanish Conversation Training for Armed and Unarmed Security Guard Certification
Enjoy the Beauty of Fall Without Allergies! Medications only mask the symptoms. We treat the problem! TREATMENT and EVALUATION of: • Allergies • Asthma • Insect Stings • Food Allergies • Patch Testing for Contact Allergies • Sublingual Immunotherapy (Oral drops taken at home) • Allergic Rashes • Hives • Chronic Cough • Sinus Problems
[865] 692-2027 Make an appointment with your Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist Today!
Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People Learn shortcuts for playing piano by ear by focusing on chords rather than individual note reading.
Women’s Basic Self-Defense (Ages 13 and up) Flyfishing 101 Beyond Basic Digital Photography Concentrate on the artistic side of photography! With three classes and two field trips, you will learn how to see with a camera and capture the most interesting subjects on location.
How to Thrive Financially in Retirement for Long Term Care: How to Identify, Obtain and Pay for It Savvy Social Security & Life Planning Strategies for Women Discover common mistakes that may keep you from earning your maximum social security benefits.
Savvy Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need To Know to Maximize Retirement Income
www.pstcc.edu/BCS
• personal development • Computer training • industrial & technical • business & professional • online courses • customized training
Joe Wisniewski, MD N. Knoxville - (865) 692-2027 • Sevierville - (865) 429-1010
www.allergypartners.com/et
865.539.7167
www.ShopperNewsNow.com
faith
NORTH/EAST Shopper news • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • 7
cross currents Lynn Pitts, lpitts48@yahoo.com
The problem with busy bodies For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busy bodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. (2 Thessalonians 3: 11-13 NRSV)
Bill Lett, a longtime church member and former art teacher at Central High School, offers his bronze sculptures for sale. He has also created portraits of the church down through the That’s a lot of Beanie Babies. David Burnett enjoys picking them up here and there and reselling them. years in bronze. Photos by Emily Shane
Washington Presbyterian Church hosts fall events By Carol Z. Shane The sun was shining and the air was just cool enough when Washington Presbyterian Church in Corryton held its first-ever Craft Fair and and Rummage Sale on a recent Saturday. Nearby in the parking lot, helpers gathered under a tent, getting ready to run the “drivethrough barbecue.” “This church has existed in this location since 1802,” says Tim Adams, longtime church member who was formerly Zoo Knoxville’s director of education. “Washington Pike was built so that people could get to this church.” Adams explained that “there’s two separate things going on here. The proceeds from the craft fair go to buy new Christmas decorations for the church, and the
funds from the barbecue, which we do three or four times a year, go to finance the Apple Festival.” The Apple Festival is a huge event, drawing 2,0002,300 visitors per year. It features food, music, apple butter, apple cider, fried apple pies, barbecue and ribs for lunch, crafts, canned goods and more. “Last year we made $28,000,” says Adams. “It all goes to missions. “We’re a little church that hasn’t realized in 214 years that we’re little.” Washington Presbyterian Church’s 39th Annual Apple Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 15 at the church, 7405 Washington Pike in Corry-
Isaiah Askew and Carter Adams enjoy the sunny day. Their grandfather is Tim Adams, who says, “When we start the drivethrough barbecue, Carter is the carhop!”
FAITH NOTES ■ Beaumont Avenue Baptist Church, 1502 Beaumont Ave., will celebrate Homecoming at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. Former pastor Ronald Russell will bring the message. Covered-dish lunch following the service. Info: 524-5024. ■ Thorn Grove Baptist Church, 10200 Thorn Grove Pike, will host its “Harvest Celebration” on Saturday, Oct. 22. Country fixins’ breakfast, 7 a.m.; live auction, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m. Other activities: silent auction, baked and canned goods, gift shop, crafters and vendors, children’s games and activities, door prizes and live music. Info: 933-5771 or office@tgbchurch.com.
ton. Info: visitwpc.org, or call 865-688-7755. Send story suggestions to news@ shoppernewsnow.com.
Shopper s t n e V enews
Send items to news@ShopperNewsNow.com
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5 International Folk Dance Class, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, Clinton. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724; oakridgefolkdancers.org; on Facebook. Medic blood drive, 1:30-7:30 p.m., Humana Guidance Center, 4438 Western Ave.
THURSDAY, OCT. 6 Computer Workshop: Introducing the Computer (Windows 7) 10:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Halls Branch Library, 4518 E. Emory Road. Info/registration: 922-2552.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, OCT. 6-8 Yard sale, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Northside Christian Church, 4008 Tazewell Pike. Furniture, collectables, clothing, toys and more.
Church, 9507 Depot Road, Heiskell. Booth rental, $10. Info: Bobbie Kennedy-Jones, 257-1283. Parkridge Neighborhood Home Tour, 1-6 p.m., Ashley Nicole Park, 620 Winona St. Tickets: $10 advance; $12 day of. Children under 12, free. Advance tickets available at Last Days of Autumn Brewery, Three Rivers Market, parkridgecommunity.wordpress.com. Info: historicparkridge@gmail.com or 406-4364. Rummage sale, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Mynatt Baptist Church in Halls off Mynatt Road. Proceeds go to church building fund. Info: Fred Sholtes, 216-2138. Saturday Stories and Songs: Emagene Reagen, 11 a.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. Info: 689-2681. Sounds of Joy concert, 5 p.m., Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oak Ridge Highway. Featured artists: Mark Lowry, Stan Whitmire, Taranda Greene and Cana’s Voice. General admission, $20; group discounts available: 423-218-1926. Info: 691-8886.
MONDAY, OCT. 10 Coffee, Donuts and a Movie:” Me Before You,” 10:30 a.m., Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway. Info: 525-5431. Family Movie Night: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,” 5:30 p.m., Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway. Info: 525-5431.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12
“The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Ave. Performances: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Info: 2083677, knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com, zack@ childrenstheatreknoxville.com.
Computer Workshop: Introducing the Computer (Windows 7), 2-4:15 p.m., Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway. Info/registration: 525-5431. Homeschoolers @ the Library: Titanic Museum Attraction, 10 a.m. for preK-third grade and 11 a.m. for fourth grade and up, Halls Branch Library. 4518 E. Emory Road. Info/registration: 922-2552. International Folk Dance Class, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, Clinton. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724; oakridgefolkdancers.org; on Facebook.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCT. 7-8
THURSDAY, OCT. 13
Fall rummage sale, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Mount Hermon UMC, 235 E. Copeland Road. Rummage, baked goods, canned goods and more. Info: 938-7910 or 938-7663. Yard sale, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Washington Pike Baptist Church. 1700 Washington Pike. Proceeds go to the church.
“End-of-Summer Garden Tasks,” 3:15-4:15 p.m., Humana Guidance Center, 4438 Western Ave. Presented by Master Gardener Joe Pardue. Info: 329-8892. “Getting Your House in Order” seminar, 2-3 p.m., Sister Elizabeth Room, North Knoxville Medical Center, 7565 Dannaher Drive. Seminar focuses on how to leave an organized estate. Registration deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 12. Info/registration: 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682) or Tennova.com. Halls Book Club: “The Murder That Never Was” by Andrea Kane, 1 p.m., Halls Branch Library, 4518 E. Emory Road. Info: 922-2552. Living with Diabetes: Putting the Pieces Together, 2-4:30 p.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. Info: 689-2681.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY, OCT. 6-9
SATURDAY, OCT. 8 Fall festival, 3 p.m., Fellowship Christian Church, 746 Tazewell Pike, Luttrell. Includes: singing on the porch, free food, crafts, antique cars. Everyone welcome. Flea market, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Bishopville Baptist
Isn’t it interesting that there were busy bodies even in the earliest churches? And isn’t it fascinating that the term “busy body” (which seems to imply a person who is working steadily) is applied to folks who were doing absolutely nothing except meddling and causing trouble? (I was quite surprised and more than a little amused to realize the King James Version of the Bible uses the exact same term, albeit as one word: busybodies!) I suppose human nature is pretty consistent, whether first century or 21st century: always able to see the mote in our neighbor’s eye and yet unable to notice the log in our own (see Luke 6:42). So, here is the Apostle Paul pretty much calling a spade a spade, and telling the Church at Thessalonica to get on the stick, every last one of them! That is another way in which the human condition remains unchanged. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that today’s churches also have busy bodies, those who carry tales, who whisper gossip, who stir up trouble, who do little to help and much to harm. So we pray, we tolerate, we forgive, we hope, we persevere. And if we follow our Lord’s example, we keep on keeping on, because we need each other, and this fallen, broken world needs us to love, to learn, to grow, to remember St. Paul’s admonition to “do what is right.”
FRIDAY, OCT. 14 Benefit to support Historic Ramsey House, 6:30 p.m., The Foundry, 747 World’s Fair Park Drive. Guest master of ceremonies: Sam Venable. Guest speaker: Dave Ramsey; topic: “Building a Legacy.” Tickets: $100. Info/reservations: 546-0745 or judy@ ramseyhouse.org. Cruise In, 4-8 p.m., Beaver Ridge UMC, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway. Trucks, cars and motorcycles welcome. Info: 690-1060. The Rocky Top Pickin’ Party, 6-10 p.m., MabryHazen House, 1711 Dandridge Ave. Hosted by Keep Knoxville Beautiful. Features: The Bearded, the Hardin Valley Thunder and more. All musicians invited to play. Woods and Wildlife Field Day for Urban Environments, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., UT Arboretum, 901 Illinois Ave. in Oak Ridge. Registration fee: $10; includes lunch. Preregistration: 483-3571 or utforest@ utk.edu by Oct. 5. Info: forestry.tennessee.edu.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, OCT. 14-16 Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Kerbela Temple, 315 Mimosa Ave. Gem, mineral and jewelry vendors; geology exhibits; mineral and gem identification. Admission, $5; show pass, $8; children under 12, free. Info: knoxrocks.org; 256-0795; teresapolly@bellsouth.net.
SATURDAY, OCT. 15 Annual Fall Apple Festival, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Washington Presbyterian Church, 7405 Washington Pike. Food, music, apple butter, apple cider, fried apple pies, barbecue and ribs for lunch, crafts, canned goods and more. All proceeds support church’s mission work. Community is invited. Admission and parking are free. Info: visitwpc.org; wpc@visitwpc.org; Tim, 776-4523. Kitten and cat adoption fair, noon-6 p.m., West Town PetSmart adoption center, 214 Morrell Road. Sponsored by Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee. Info: feralfelinefriends.org. Saturday Stories and Songs: Miss Lynn, 11 a.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. Info: 689-2681. Tour the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Sam Venable, 9:30 a.m., GSM Heritage Center, Townsend. Cost: $60. Advance reservations required. Info/reservations: 448-8838.
SUNDAY, OCT. 16 Lineage and Legacy event, 2-4 p.m., MabryHazen House, 1711 Dandridge Ave. Events include a oneact play performed by the Tennessee Stage Company, which follows events leading to the Oct. 19, 1882, gunfight. Also serves as annual membership meeting. Free and open to the public. RSVP by Oct. 12.
kids
8 • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • Shopper news
South-Doyle: What’s in a name? By Kip Oswald
As I wrote about the history of L&N STEM Academy, I began to wonder about the history of some other school names. Keshawn’s friend Anthony goes to South-Doyle High School, so Kinzy and I researched the history of that name and South-Doyle’s main feeder schools. South-Doyle High School is a combination of several former high schools. Young High School was built in 1913 and named for Dr. J.F. Young. In 1976, Young High joined South High School, which was built in 1951 as one of four schools to split from old Knoxville High School. Then in 1991, South-Young, as it had been renamed, joined with Doyle High School, which was built in 1967 and named for the family of Mildred Doyle, superintendent of Knox County Schools, to create SouthDoyle High School. The official feeder middle school is South-Doyle Middle School, which gains students from several elementary schools, each of which has an interesting history of name origination: Bonny Kate, Dogwood, Gap Creek, Mooreland Heights, Mount Olive, New Hopewell and South Knoxville. For instance, Bonny Kate was the nickname of the wife of John Sevier, first governor of Tennessee. With the school board heading the process, Dog-
wood Elementary – which merged Anderson, Giffin and Flenniken schools in January 1995 – got its name by letting people submit names, narrowing down the selections and allowing those in the schools and community to vote. Gap Creek was the name of the post office in the Kimberlin Heights community of 1859 and the name stuck in the area. Mooreland Heights Elementary was named for a local, William Carrick Moore, an entrepreneur in the wroughtiron industry who had many things named after him. Mount Olive Elementar y School began in Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1837. In 1895, land was given to the school directors to build Mount Olive School, and the school opened afterwards. New Hopewell is listed simply as an unincorporated community in Knox County, and the school is named after the community, as is South Knoxville Elementary named after its location in the city of Knoxville. Next week I will continue the “What’s in a Name?” series. App of the week: Zoombinis: a classic logic puzzler that makes for cognitively powerful playtime for grades 3-8.
Jadarius Walker and Aydan Arp build a marble run using a Makerspace kit at Green Magnet Academy. Photos by Ruth White
Jennifer Patrocinio uses a Spirograph to create colorful works of art during her time in the Makerspace lab.
Makerspace learning: More than playing games By Ruth White At first glance, students using Makerspace kits at Green Magnet Academy make it look like fun and games. While it is fun, the kits also teach students to think differently, work together and problem solve in their own unique ways. Makerspaces have been described as community centers with tools that make design, engineering, fabrication and education accessible for all students. The kits allow for manufacturing of products designed by the students and encourage teamwork and critical thinking. Green Magnet librarian Tommie Branscum runs the Makerspace lab at the school. Before launching the program, she spoke with teachers to find out what’s going on in the classrooms so that she could integrate their lessons into the lab. Students learn coding to make robots work, create beads from paper, use straws and connectors to create objects and work with circuit boards.
Jarvis Henderson builds a prank handshake device while his teammate Malyshia Dokes creates an alarm with Little Bits kits. Branscum told of two instances when students took on the challenge of out-ofthe-box thinking. One student didn’t have a specific tool to create beads from paper, so he created his own. And two students used straws and connectors to make a couch and television set. “It’s fun to watch them solve problems without re-
ally doing any problem solving,” she said. Makerspace activities give students free license to fail – and to know that it’s okay when things don’t work out perfectly. Students often work with others who they may not know well, thereby strengthening skills in following directions and working together.
Once the activities are complete, the students are required to grade their teammates on the rules of collaborative conversation including speaking softly, being good listeners, discussing the project, staying seated and being respectful. Individuals then turn the tables and grade themselves through self-reflection.
October 22, 2016 Register Today! www.KomenKnoxville.org
Shopper news • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • 9
Village Mercantile is Tennessee’s Best A local business was one of three to win recognition from First Tennessee’s online competition, “Tennessee’s Best Small Business,” for small business owners across the Volunteer State. The Village Mercantile, 4503 Walker Blvd., in North Knoxville received second place and a $2,500 prize. It was presented Sept. 29 by Pam Fansler, First Tennessee’s East market president. The Cupcake Collection in Nashville received the grand prize of $10,000; BAAK Boutique in Sevierville received first prize of $5,000. “We are so delighted that a Knoxville business received second prize in this statewide contest,” said Fansler. “The Village Mercantile is very deserving of this honor and is a true community partner serving the Knoxville community.” Nominations were taken through Aug. 21 with voting Aug. 22 to Sept. 4. The Village Mercantile is decidedly more than just a grocery store, Fansler said. Monica Lauber, descendant of the Mast family, owners of the original Mast General Store, opened in the late 1800s in Valle Crucis, N.C., is owner and proprietor of The Village Mercantile. She values the smalltown feel and deep customer connections. Her store offers amenities that positively impact the people in her community. “Lauber listens to her neighbors, friends and community members, and makes a genuine effort to understand their needs.” The store stocks dry goods – a variety of non-perishable food and paper products that have been replaced at larger retail store chains for reasons that include
business the Rotary guy Tom King, tking535@gmail.com
Rothermel gets top volunteer award
Pam Fansler, East Tennessee president of First Tennessee, presents a $2,500 prize to Monica Lauber, owner of The Village Mercantile. Photo by Ruth White seasonality, limited edition items, redesigned or slightly broken packaging, and time placement on shelves. The non-perishables include a selection of organic, gluten-free and healthy fare, coffees, snack and convenience foods, beauty items, gifts, handmade soap and hand-poured soy candles, crafted by Monica herself. The store itself features hardwood floors and vintage-styled, wooden bookcase aisles. At the register, you will find a glass block money jar bearing the motto, “Feed a Friend.” Here Lauber has collected and forwarded more than $1,000 in customer gifts in the past year, providing groceries and positively affecting the lives of struggling community members, setting in motion a wave of human kindness, neighbor
to neighbor. The store offers a community room, located adjacent to the grocery aisles. This event space, displaying local artists’ paintings and photography, with a solid pine hand-carved table seating 10-15 people, allows for a variety of setups for meetings, book clubs, workshops, parties or retreats. Lauber says, “I envisioned a versatile, but beautiful space, a nominal fee of $15/hour, with no deposit required.” Recently, Lauber found statistics indicating more than 250 households in the store’s zip code are without transportation, many operating with budgets less than half the national poverty rate. While higher-income families enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables easily accessible at local farmers mar-
kets, lower-income families often do not have the means or transportation to access these markets. Lauber partnered with local farmers to provide a no-cost locale for farmers to convene every Saturday, bringing together the freshest locally grown foods, fully accessible to the community. When a farmer donated bushels of tomatoes, Monica offered them, free of charge, to the neighboring senior citizens who live independently but with supportive services. She posted on her Facebook Business Page, “A gift from a local producer and The Village Mercantile to you and yours.” Her loyal customers responded in kind by voting The Village Mercantile one of Tennessee’s best small businesses. It came full circle.
When being honored for volunteer service, there is but one major award that matters – the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service through the Corporation for National and Community Service. That award has been presented to Frank Rothermel, past president of the Rotary Club of Knoxville and Past District 6780 governor. This award honors an individual who has given more than 4,000 hours of service over his or her lifetime. Rothermel Frank has traveled the world volunteering for Rotary, so we wondered – 3,999 of those 4,000 hours are what he’s done for Rotary. What did he do with that extra hour? Well, Frank does a lot more for our community than just Rotary. And he still has to work for a living as president of Denark Construction. Outside of Rotary, he is vitally involved with Volunteer Knoxville, Leadership Knoxville, the United Way, MEDIC Blood Bank, Habitat for Humanity, the Homeless Coalition and the Urban League, to name but a few of his interests. There are many others. With his penchant for understatement, he says about this honor: “You know, I’m really not good at any one thing, but I’m OK on doing a lot of things. How many people, truly, have the opportunity to help their community as I have had? I’m the lucky one to be volunteering and helping out with some things. I was really shocked and surprised about this award.” Four years ago, Frank wanted to find an easy way for people to volunteer and help nonprofits in Knoxville. He and a few others came up with the idea of Volunteer Knoxville. Frank convinced nine of his “buddies” to join with him and pitch in $10,000 a year for three years, and they raised the $300,000 in seed money to get it rolling. Today, three years later, Volunteer Knoxville has 15,000 volunteers helping nonprofits. Alexandra Brownfield, Volunteer Knoxville’s executive director, says it would not have happened without Frank, and that led to the organization nominating him for this award. “It is absolutely amazing to see all that he does for our community,” she says. “He is a driving force.” There’s not one Rotarian anywhere who could or would disagree with that!
On the move again: Enjoying fall birding The birds are on the move again. And they aren’t the only creatures stirring. Those people in the funny hats, carrying binoculars – birders – are out and about, too. After two or three months of summer doldrums, big things are happening out there in the bird world.
Bobolinks
Dr. Bob Collier
Fall migration actually started back in the summer. Those earliest spring arrivals, the martins and the swallows, are also the first to head south in the fall. We saw a flock of thousands of purple martins gathering up in east Carolina for fall migration way back the first week of August. The second week of August, on the 12th, we found 200 tree swallows on the lines and swarming over our hayfield; three days later, none. The last of the nighthawks, chimney swifts and hummingbirds will be leaving any day now. But many other species will be passing through in large numbers, through October and even into November, and now’s the time to get out and see the fall show – birds passing through that we get to glimpse for only a few days each spring and fall. Fall birding is full of challenges to confront the eager birder. A couple of major problems: familiar birds in unusual plumages, and lots of unusual birds, just passing through, from farther north. Migrating fall warblers, for example,
are legendary in their difficulty. The Roger Tory Peterson field guides feature two whole pages titled “Confusing Fall Warblers.” So bright and colorful in the spring that they’re called “the butterflies of the bird world,” many of them molt this time of the year into drab, and sometimes quite different, plumages. And not just the warblers – scarlet tanagers go from flaming red and jet black to yellow and olive, goldfinches go from gold and black to drab shades of greenish yellow, and strikingly blue indigo buntings turn a motley gray or brown. In addition, they are now flocking with equal or greater numbers of this year’s hatchlings, full grown but still with mystifyingly different plumages from their parents. All this confusion, plus the possibilities of seeing unusual or even rare transient birds from else-
where, makes fall birding exciting and challenging and brings about the annual fall reappearance of all those birders. The Eagle Bend Fish Hatchery in Clinton, less than 20 minutes from my mailbox, is a small but great local birding spot. Located on a big horseshoe bend in the Clinch River, the big open ponds and grassy fields pull in migrating birds like a magnet. You can check it out in less than an hour. Over the years, I’ve seen nearly 100 species of birds there, many for the first time. This fall, I saw such long-distance migrants as bobolinks there on the 14th of September and a spiffy American golden-plover there on the 26th. That’s nice, you say; we don’t usually have them around here. But why drive 20 miles and spend an hour trying to see them? A big reason for all the
excitement in finding these birds is that most birders understand the significance of where these birds are coming from and where they are going. Those range maps in the field guides that show where each species spends the summer, and then the winter? Look closely at them – they contain a ton of information and will tell you the story! Twice-yearly journeys of incredible distances, amazing navigational skills and – especially – endurance. Take those bobolinks, for example. Sparrow-sized, seed-eating birds, the males are a striking black and white in spring but now are a drab streaked yellowbrown, blending in with the brown fall grasses where they feed. These little birds nest far to the north of us – Great Lakes, upper Midwest and on up into Canada. The ones at Eagle Bend
were taking a rest and food break, less than halfway on their journey of more thousands of miles to wintering grounds in southern South America. The golden-plovers? They nest in the high Arctic tundra of northernmost North America. The one I saw at Eagle Bend was fueling up on East Tennessee bugs in order to continue its trip to southeastern South America, where, across the equator, it will find itself in early spring instead of early fall. When I saw it, it was only halfway on an 8,000-mile trip, which it will do the other way (north) in the spring. Every year. I consider it a wonder of Nature, and there I was, looking into its black beady eyes. You can’t help but wish it good luck and safe travels. There are lots of good local places to see fall birds. We have Cove Lake State
Park in Campbell County and the Norris Songbird Trail and Eagle Bend in Anderson County. Knox County Parks such as Tommy Schumpert, Victor Ashe and Sharp’s Ridge Memorial offer good birding close by. And the newest and one of the best is the Seven Islands State Birding Park, also in Knox County – over 400 well-managed, wildlife-friendly acres along the French Broad River. It sports weedy fields, wooded hills and a pond as well as the river frontage. Nice trails make it all accessible for good birding. The park already boasts a bird list of nearly 200 species, and well-guided bird walks occur frequently. My most recent visit there was a week ago, on a bright, clear Wednesday morning. Ten of us were treated to a cool, cloudless day and lots of fall birds. My list for the three-hour, 3.5-mile walk that morning had 51 species of birds, including a bald eagle, various hawks, grosbeaks, tanagers, herons, ducks and, especially fun for me, seven different species of those confusing fall warblers. It’s even more fun when you have expert birders, like our two leaders, there to help a person sort them out. The spectacular view across the river valley on over to Chilhowee Mountain and Mount LeConte wasn’t bad, either. East Tennessee fall birding at some of its best. Fall birding may not be the rush that spring birding provides, but there are nevertheless a lot of interesting and challenging goings-on out there. And, a lot of great places nearby to enjoy the show. And it certainly beats the heck out of raking leaves.
10 • OCTOBER 5, 2016 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news