SOUTH KNOX VOL. 2 NO. O 115
IN THIS ISSUE
River Rescue
The 25th annual River Rescue spearheaded by Ijams Nature Center drew hundreds of volunteers to local shorelines for a big day of spring cleaning. At press time, the total amount of trash collected during the event on Saturday, April 5, had not been tallied, but tons of human-generated debris were gathered from about 40 sites along the Tennessee River and related creeks and streams.
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April July 29, 14, 2013 2014
Higher ground
Artist gets inspiration from nature around him
Read Betsy Pickle on page 3
School board predictions District 9 incumbent Pam Trainor, a strong McIntyre supporter, has drawn only a single challenger (albeit an exceptionally vigorous one), so this race will be decided in the primary.
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Read Betty Bean on page 4
City salaries: Bet you didn’t know ... The city of Knoxville is essentially a service provider. It’s a people business. As such, wages and related fringe benefits make up the largest part of the city’s $183 million operating budget.
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Read Nick Della Volpe on page 5
Marvin West talks basketball My mentor ... said “basketball is such a simple game, even you can teach it.” All you have to do is control time and space – and don’t give up the baseline. He explained that effort and positioning are key ingredients of defense and rebounding. He said shooting was a bit more complicated, that even the best players rarely made half their shots. He recommended getting as close to the basket as possible before “putting it up.”
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Read more from Marvin on page 5
Kindergarden round-up There weren’t any critters, but there was a little bit of wrangling at the Mount Olive Elementary School Kindergarten Roundup last week. The Mount Olive library bustled with a mix of parents filling out paperwork and kids “helping” them. Eager older siblings encouraged the proceedings, while younger siblings seemed puzzled by the lack of attention they were getting.
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See school news on page 6
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Kelly Brown adjusts the antlers on the frame of a moose that will be layered with sticks. Photos by Betsy Pickle
Kelly Brown turned a regular playhouse into a fairy fort for his children, Tanner and Zoey.
inspiration because Brown creates sculptures of iron and sticks that are whimBy Betsy Pickle sical yet bound to nature, Kelly Brown is on top of the timeless yet impermanent. world. Some of them look like they That is, he is when he’s in his could be pieces from a game board carport studio at his South Knox- used by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Ents. ville home, just up the hill from Others are more figurative, but Ijams Nature Center. throughout one can glimpse a kinThe air up there must be full of ship with Middle-earth.
Fortunately, one doesn’t have to travel to another world to enjoy Brown’s works. In this month, particularly, when folks from around the country are descending upon the Knoxville area to enjoy the arts, Brown is all over the place, with claims staked by years of hard work, passion and creativity. He created the bicycle arch at the Hill Avenue entrance to Out-
door Knoxville. He installed decorative screens in a space adjacent to developer David Dewhirst’s offices off Jackson Avenue. He has a piece at the Knoxville Zoo. He recently created a cedar sphere, painted a dramatic red, for a homeowner on Gibbs Drive in Fountain City. He also has built To page 3
Lay, McMillan are GOP candidates to replace Swann Another frequent complaint is his overreliance on Orders of ProThe swan takes flight. After 32 years on the bench, 4th tection. At one time, Knox County’s Circuit Court Judge Bill Swann 4th Circuit Court issued more OPs announced his retirement last than Davidson, Hamilton, Shelby year, shortly after lawyer Greg and Sullivan counties combined. He also has a stable of lawyers McMillan said he would seek the who work as his “special masters.” job whether Swann ran or not. These lawyers have their own robes, dockets and nameplates. When they’re not wielding a gavel, they are practicing in his court, raising Swann is Knox County’s most the question of how these individucontroversial judge; lawyers and lit- als can be agents of the judge one igants either love or hate him. Many day and come before him the next? Candidate Patti Jane Lay is one just bypass his court entirely, filing in Chancery Court and putting a of these, and Swann has endorsed her to succeed him. burden on that court’s caseload. These practices have caused The biggest complaint against Judge Swann is his overreliance on Chancery Court dockets to bepsychologists, with several working come overloaded with divorce cases. Swann’s critics say he has in his court, pushing up costs. The state requires that divorc- made the process of getting a diing couples undergo one media- vorce in Knox County expensive, tion session; Swann requires four. cumbersome and protracted. The candidates: Two lawThe state requires four hours of Parent Education Seminars; yers seek to replace Judge Swann, a race that will be decided in the Swann requires 12. It is difficult to get a trial date May 6 Republican Primary. The because he has trial “manage- winner will face the winner of the ments,” which require litigants to Democratic Primary, either Danspend yet another day sitting in iel Kidd or David Valone, in the the courtroom with their lawyers general election. Patti Jane Lay and Greg McMilso that progress toward settlelan are campaigning hard – both ment can be “measured.”
By Jake Mabe
Analysis
in the shadow of Bill Swann. Lay grew up in Fountain City and Bearden, graduating from Webb School of Knoxville. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Emory University in Atlanta and a law degree at UT. She and her husband, Tom Baugh, live in Bearden and have three chilLay dren. McMillan says he declared his intentions to run in 2006. He graduated from Bearden High before earning a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from UT. He and his wife, Summer, have five children. He is special counsel with the Lewis Thomason law firm. McMillan says he got into the race because, “the court hasn’t been working well for the people of Knox County for several years.” He says he will: ■ Do a better job screening orders of protection, granting them not at the initial stage by special masters, but by the court of record. “It eliminates appeals.” ■ Ensure better coordination between law enforcement and the court, making orders of protection
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simplified, clear and typed rather than written. ■ Change the way the docket is handled. Says most cases are filed in Chancery Court because of Swann’s “biases,” which has created a logjam. ■ Change Swann’s snow day policy, opening court even if Knox County governMcMillan ment is closed for those who can safely make it to court. On the civil side, McMillan says he will change the current policy of a required 12-hour parenting class to the state-required four-hour class. Also will look at offering online classes. Says when a parent is going through a divorce, their children need them more than ever. “The court needs to work better for the people of Knox County. There’s going to be a change (in judges). But it needs to be the right change.” Lay did not return our call for comment. Candidate bios can be found at their respective websites, w w w.pattijanelay forjudge.com and http://mcmillanforjudge.com. Betty Bean contributed to this report.
2 • APRIL 14, 2014 • Shopper news
health & lifestyles
Full-scale heart treatment for Knoxville man Feeling tired and out of breath, Joe Mackin of Knoxville, 69, mentioned those symptoms to his endocrinologist during a routine visit in July for his Type 2 diabetes. “Now that I’m looking back on it, you see things much clearer. If you’ve got Type 2 diabetes, you’ve got to pay attention because it can lead to heart problems,â€? Mackin said. The doctor talked him into having a stress test on his heart, which measures blood ow to the heart muscle at rest and during exercise. “I unked it,â€? said Mackin. “Then they did an angiogram in cardiologist Dr. (George M.) Krisle’s ofďŹ ce, to look inside my veins. I unked that, too. I was 100 percent clogged on my main artery, and the other two were 75 to 80 percent blocked.â€? After that, the best course of action was coronary bypass surgery, also called Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). During this surgery, a healthy piece of vein is taken from the leg or other area of the body and is grafted onto the blocked coronary artery to “bypassâ€? the blockage. CABG requires cutting through the chest wall. It’s major surgery and requires weeks of recovery time. Knowing that, Mackin struck a bargain with his doctors. “Well I had already planned to go to my sister’s
Sara Gray Mackin, Joe Mackin and their 13 year old bulldog, CB
wedding in Chicago,� he said. “I told them, ‘Look, I’ve made it this far. I’d like to go to Mackinac Island for the wedding.’ “But I was pretty careful. I got a packet of nitroglyc-
erin for the trip,� he said. Nitroglycerin dilates blood vessels and is used in emergencies to improve blood ow to the heart. Off he went, enjoying the wedding in Michigan. When
he got back, Mackin headed straight for Fort Sanders and heart surgery on July 25, 2013 with his cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Lacy Harville. The surgery went smoothly, even though
Mackin had a slight setback after surgery. “There was a nurse named Michelle on my oor, and she picked up before anybody else that I had water in my lungs because of
her acute ears and stethoscope,â€? he said. “She was able to correct it, she was outstanding. It might have turned into early stage pneumonia, but they treated it very quickly.â€? Mackin was in the hospital ďŹ ve days. After returning home, he started heart rehabilitation sessions at Fort Sanders, which he continues today. “It’s a great program because they really know what they’re doing. I’m doing a very responsible threepronged attack of exercise, better diet and lower stress,â€? said Mackin. Plus, he said he is taking care of his diabetes more closely. “Before, I knew a lot of information but I didn’t pay attention to it. I didn’t watch my diabetes closely enough,â€? he said. Mackin said he would recommend Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center to anyone who needs cardiac care. “It was a top-notch experience, triple A,â€? he said. “From the doctor all the way down to the people who took care of the room and cleaned it up, everybody was tremendous. “They really seem to have a commitment to total care, starting with surgery and continuing with the postsurgery care. A lot of times you don’t know what you’re getting into until you get there,â€? said Mackin. “I just feel very fortunate I got the right people.â€?
Fort Sanders Cardiac Surgery earns 3-Star Award For the second time in a row, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center earned a 3-Star Award from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. For the most recent analysis of national data from January 2012 through December 2012, Fort Sanders’ performance was again in the highest quality tier. This
national designation means that Fort Sanders is among the top 10 percent of cardiac surgery centers in the United States, based on a complex set of measurements considering severity of illness, complications from surgery, hospital stay and overall outcomes afterward. “In Washington, they consider this the gold standard for looking at how well cardiac surgery programs do,� said cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Lacy Harville. “It’s great that we got this, but it really speaks to the dedication of the
whole heart team.� Harville explained that it takes dozens of staff members, from surgeons and nurses to technicians and staff, to care for each patient. “It’s just all of us, taking care of patients,� Harville said. “We have put a lot of processes in place to get better and better at what we do, and minimize the likelihood of problems occurring.� The award focused on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, commonly called “cabbage.� It is a surgical procedure in which arteries or veins from other parts
“We have put a lot of processes in place to get better and better at what we do.� – Dr. Lacy Harville of the body are grafted onto heart arteries to bypass blockages. It is a very detailed surgery, and many things can go wrong, said Harville. “If you do enough high risk surgery, which heart surgery is, you’re not always going to have a
great outcome,� he said. “So you want someone with a great batting average, and Fort Sanders is really good at all positions.� “You have to look at more than just numbers, but patients are in very good hands at Fort Sanders.�
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SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • APRIL 14, 2014 • 3
Jake Hudson of the Fort Loudoun Lake Association returns with trash picked up along the shoreline of Looney Island. Photo by Stephen Lyn
Siblings Eleanor and Jonah watch as dad Brent Wood picks up trash at Island Home Park.
Photo
submitted
Rescuing the river form at 2 p.m. The band will perform songs from the new album “One More Heart To Break.” Split Family perBetsy forms at 3 p.m. Pickle Knaves will hit the stage at 4 p.m., with Echoes going on at 5 p.m. Gamenight, plugging “Pets Pets,” will Sale will take place from perform at 6 p.m. Best Friend plays at 7 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Eight local nurs- p.m., while Lil’ Iffy will eries will sell wildflowers, present an energetic wandshrubs and trees. Also avail- core finale at 8 p.m. Food and beverage venable will be garden flowers, vegetables, outdoor crafts, dors tempting customers pottery, birdhouses, metal will include: Savory and works and decorations. Pro- Sweet Truck, Bull’s BBQ, Crepes, ceeds benefit Ijams’ natural Farm-to-Griddle Saw Works Brewing Co., areas and trails. Quizno’s and Three Bears ■ Live at Record Coffee. For more info, visit www. Store Day recordstoreday.com or Live music will rock out www.discexchange.com. the Disc Exchange, 2615 Chapman Highway, on Rec- ■ SoKnoxStudios ord Store Day, which is this grand opening Saturday, April 19. DigiTrax EntertainRecord Store Day is an international event de- ment’s grand opening of its signed as a display of sup- SoKnoxStudios brought out port for indie record stores politicians, community acby musicians and music lov- tivists and entertainmenters. Hundreds of exclusive industry professionals last titles will be released, and week. Tuesday’s event drew there’ll be plenty of vinyl more than 100 people to the and CDs on sale. ■ More Ijams news The store opens at 10 new facility at 6520 ChapNaturalist Karen Fletch- a.m., and music starts at man Highway, Suite D, in er is leading a weekly hike noon with Brandon Ful- Chapman-Ford Crossing. through the Urban Wil- son & the Real Billys. Black Knox County Mayor Tim derness starting at 1 p.m. Stone Cherry will perform Burchett offered his well Wednesdays through April. at 1 p.m. in their only lo- wishes, as did Knoxville The hikes leave from Ijams cal appearance in support Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis. and are free, but registra- of their upcoming album, DigiTrax CEO Joe Vangieri tion is required. Call 577- “Magic Mountain,” due out greeted the guests and in4717, ext. 110. troduced the studio’s creMay 6. The Ijams Spring Plant Kelsey’s Woods will per- ative director, songwriter The 25th annual River Rescue spearheaded by Ijams Nature Center drew hundreds of volunteers to local shorelines for a big day of spring cleaning. At press time, the total amount of trash collected during the event on Saturday, April 5, had not been tallied, but tons of humangenerated debris were gathered from about 40 sites along the Tennessee River and related creeks and streams. Volunteers had a brisk, sunny day on which to work, and young and old pitched in across nearly 50 miles of shoreline. Many left with fun stories to tell of the odd items they encountered, but when you think about all those bags of garbage, the humor goes flat. Make plans now to join Ijams and partners TVA, the city of Knoxville and Knox County for the 26th annual River Rescue. And in the meantime, do your best to keep trash off the streets – and out of storm drains and creeks that flow to our beautiful river.
Higher ground
From page 1
David Lauver, William Thomas and Seva Ball check out the sound-recording equipment with Kyle Heverly of SoKnoxStudios. Photos by Betsy Pickle
Mark Radice, who performed three songs, including one he wrote for Elmo. The studio offers audio and visual labs where people can record their vocal or instrumental tracks to karaoke recreations of 17,000 popular songs or do their own original music, with help from a variety of A-list studio musicians. Material can even be animated at the
in-house animation studio headed by Todd Carter. The collection of hightech gear is pretty impressive, and it’s ready to be used. “We would love for people to call right away,” says David Grimes, director of marketing. “They can also book an appointment on our website, SoKnoxStudios. com.”
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Fort Dickerson
The Fort Dickerson construction contract is on Tuesday’s City Council agenda, according to Nick Pavlis, vice mayor and 1st District council member. The entrance to Fort Dickerson is being reconfigured to align with Woodlawn Pike. The project will give the historic park more visibility and easier access.
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a “twigloo” for Dogwood Elementary School and several for Jo’s Grove at Ijams. Right now, he’s working on a moose for a home in Sequoyah Hills. “It’s the most elaborate work piece I’ve done,” says Brown, who has nearly completed the frame, made mostly from rebar, and will soon begin layering sticks on it to bring it to life. “It was a challenge to me, but it’s coming together.” Brown grew up in Florida and began playing with sticks as an art major in college. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and his MFA at the University of Tennessee. His degrees landed him teaching jobs – at Roane State and Pellissippi State community colleges and then at Laurel High School,
where he taught for 21 years until the school closed in 2011. He loved teaching at Laurel, an alternative high school. “It was a great place to grow as a human,” he says. “I started an outdoor club there, and we explored some of the splendor that East Tennessee has to offer.” When the school closed, however, it was the impetus he needed to devote himself to his art full-time. “This was always my dream, to start something on my own,” he says. “It’s outdoor sculpture, not garden art. It fits into a different category that’s unique.” Brown is grateful to a couple of early cheerleaders. He met Larsen and Adrian Jay, founders of Random Acts of Flowers, when one of
his pieces was auctioned at a benefit for the organization. They had him create some pieces for their property. And Ijams has been both supporter and supplier. “I use a lot of privet,” says Brown. “Ijams loves me ’cause we go in there and clean the privet out of there.” Brown doesn’t take off his artist hat when his work is done. Wife Annie had him turn a playhouse into a fairy fort for kids Tanner and Zoey. It blends beautifully into the woods surrounding their home. Brown gets as much of a kick out of the woods as his children do. “I have Super Explorer Land right next to me,” he says. For more information visit bowerbirdsculpture.com.
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government Applause for Nick Nick Della Volpe, serving his second and final term on Knoxville City Council, deserves high praise for bringing up the politically tough issues he has been raising lately. While he hasn’t been successful, he is educating the public as to several city policies that are financially costly and would never happen in the private sector.
Victor Ashe
On April 1, he urged the council to repeal the ordinance that gives all city employees a 2.5 percent automatic pay raise regardless of what the economy is, what city revenues are or even what the employee’s performance is. County, state and federal employees do not enjoy this ta x-paid benefit. Repealing the ordinance would not have deprived employees of a pay raise (as the mayor each year recommends what he/she feels is best). But it would have restored flexibility to the mayor as she makes budget decisions. Instead of welcoming this initiative, she opposed it. Joining Della Volpe in representing the taxpayers on this vote were council members George Wallace and Duane Grieve. The audience booed Della Volpe and others who spoke in favor of repeal. While employee opposition is understandable, disrupting the council proceedings is not justified. Della Volpe has never been a favorite of city employees, who worked hard last November along with the local Democratic Party to defeat him. Mayor Rogero pointedly did not endorse Della Volpe for a second term while she did endorse at least two others seeking re-election. They came close to ousting Della Volpe but failed. Now he is free to voice his views without political payback. Almost half of the city employees live outside the city, do not pay city property taxes and cannot vote in city elections, including one of the two deputy mayors. Della Volpe has been writing articles in this publication about expensive provisions of the city pension plan that the mayor failed to address in her charter changes. One is the annual 3 percent increase in city pensions regardless of the inflation level. This benefits about 1,800 city
retirees, over half of whom live outside the city. It will be one of the major reasons the mayor recommends a property-tax increase in 10 days on April 24 at Christenberry ballfield in her budget message. Della Volpe, an attorney, is an interesting person. He often speaks at council on many subjects. He is a strong advocate of greenways and worked effectively to install a greenway by Loves Creek in East Knoxville. Several of his colleagues wish he were less outspoken and have urged him to drop the pension comments. My personal view is that he brings to public discussion inconvenient topics on which the public needs to know more. A property-tax increase should come only when the mayor is also showing serious efforts in cutting nonessential spending. Council must be willing to say no to expenditures that can be deferred, such as the $200,000 for a salary survey that will recommend higher salaries when it is completed. Or a car allowance of $5,830 a year for a deputy mayor who walks to work. It is time to reassess the merit of all car allowances versus actual payment per mile for travel in the city. Which would be less costly to taxpayers? My guess is council will approve a Rogero propertytax hike but with three or perhaps four council members voting no. ■ Great news last week that Fort Kid at World’s Fair Park has a new lease on life with Rogero and Beth Waters working together to upgrade it. It had been slated for closure. ■ Cheri Siler on her website advocates raising the minimum wage. She said, when asked by this writer, it should go to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.70. Siler is the Democratic candidate for state senator from District 7.
GOV NOTES ■ Ray Jenkins, candidate for judge, will be honored at a reception held by Mario Azevedo II and John D. Lockridge Jr. 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Doc’s All American Grill, 7355 Kingston Pike. ■ Bobby Waggoner, candidate for sheriff, will be honored at barbecue at the Brasfield farm in Karns, 10106 Rather Road, 4-7 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Admission is free and all are invited. The event will include live music and barbecue. Kids can enjoy pony rides, a waterwalk, train rides and a visit from the Easter bunny.
4 • APRIL 14, 2014 • Shopper news
Bob and Ed or Michele Long ago and, oh, so far sion seats. away, there was a magical Thomas is unopposed place called WIVK. in District 10. He says he learned the importance of community service when Jake working for Mabe Mr. Dick at WIVK. “I will make sure your Thomas tax dollars Knoxville’s grand radio station played real coun- are not wasted.” Brantley faces former try music and was owned by radio pioneer Jim Dick. commissioner and longtime Its true characters became Knox County Republican family – the late Claude Party fixture Michele CarTomlinson, Jean Ash, Bob ringer for the 11th District Thomas, Ed Brantley, Mike seat. This race is interesting. Brantley has painted himHammond and everybody’s buddy, the late Bobby Den- self as a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. He’s taken a ton. Corporate takeovers George H.W. Bush-esque made WIVK as bland as caf- pledge to never raise taxes and wants less government. eteria coffee. Such is life. Hammond jumped into He says he’s for teachers, politics. A successful two- more jobs in Knox County term county commissioner, (“We need to attract indusHammond is running for try”), good roads, police proCriminal Court clerk. He’s tection and effective county the best candidate for the services for senior citizens. Carringer’s election job, and he will win. Two radio colleagues are would double the number following his lead. Brantley of women on the commisand Thomas – who recently sion (now only Amy Broyles hosted a radio talk show on serves). She’s a protégé of WNOX – are both running the late Mary Lou Horner, for at-large county commis- and her own mom, Irene
McCrary, is a longtime Fountain City leader. “I feel like the Knox County Republican Party needs to let everyone know we still are the party that is conser vative, and we need Brantley to stand by what we say.” She’s for better schools and safer neighborhoods, is pro-teacher and pro-police, supports small government and low taxes, and wants to promote small businesses. When I first saw Thomas and Brantley during a political forum, I started singing Buck Owens’ “Together Again.” Both are likable, widely known and feel like old friends. My first reaction was “shoo-in.” But things have taken an interesting turn. Brantley took off on a long-planned vacation with his son during the month of March – key campaign season in a county in which the Republican is usually the winner. He got tangled up in questioning the need for
algebra in public schools because he rarely uses it. Say what? Carringer is likable and bubbling with personality. She is wideCarringer ly known among a key demographic – Republican primary voters – but has both friends and foes there. Carringer wants it more, and Brantley’s blunders have put him on defense. This is Ed’s race to lose, and he’s made a good start at it.
Correction I owe a sincere apology to Knox County Trustee candidate Ed Shouse. My profile of that race contained an error that County Commissioner Dave Wright’s questioning of candidate Barry Hawkins’ non-repayment of $3,000 he received as a CTAS bonus when Hawkins worked in the office was a political move aimed to help Shouse. In fact, it was aimed to help appointed Trustee Craig Leuthold. The error was unintentional. In fact, I like Ed Shouse. He’s smart, calm, experienced and the least political candidate for the job.
Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero hosted lunch for more than 300 volunteers from the Community Action Committee (CAC) Senior Corps and AmeriCorps. Pictured are speakers Nancy Reid from Foster Grandparents, Beverly Gilmer from Senior Companions, George “Geo” Hall from RSVP, Rogero, Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill, Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell and former Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown. In 2013, local AmeriCorps members diverted 754 tons of recyclable materials from landfills and built or improved almost 70 miles of trails. Senior Corps contributed 211,009 hours of ser vice. Photo submitted
School board candidates ready for primary The Knox County primary elections are upon us. Early voting begins April 16 in this odd kind of election year. The contests that are drawing the most interest are the school board races, primarily because of the controversies surrounding Superintendent James McIntyre. The incumbents are all McIntyre supporters, and all have drawn opposition. First District challengers Marshall Walker and Robert Boyd are able guys who know their way around schools (Boyd has taught on the college level; Walker is a retired school social worker) but seem slow to get off the blocks. Prediction: Incumbent Gloria Deathridge, the vice chair of the board, could win it outright in the primary. But if she doesn’t, watch out. Walker or Boyd (both first-time candidates) could get the hang of this campaigning thing and give the voters something to think
Betty Bean about. Both are McIntyre critics with deep roots in the community. Sally Absher and J. Scott Clark, challenging board chair Lynne Fugate in District 4, are a study in contrasts. Absher, elected to the state Republican Executive Committee four years ago, is not seeking re-election to that position. She has caught heat for being a former Tea Party activist but says she has pulled back from those causes. She is energetic and knowledgeable and sympathetic to teacher concerns. If Absher suffers from too much publicity, Clark’s had too little. He appears to be running something of a stealth campaign, but his
presence will make it hard for Fugate to win a majority vote in the primary. If she’s forced into a runoff with Absher, she, like Deathridge, could be in for a most unpleasant summer. Prediction: Fugate wins, but not by enough to avoid a runoff. Incumbents Kim Severance in District 7 and Thomas Deakins in District 6 are stepping down, and while only soon-to-be-retired teacher Patti Lou Bounds submitted a qualifying petition to succeed Severance, there’s a dogfight in the Sixth, where four candidates are duking it out. Two of them – Brad Buchanan and Tamara Shepherd – are outright critics of McIntyre’s test-them-tillthey-puke methodology. Candidate Terry Hill is vaguely critical of McIntyre and has been more focused on getting a new middle school in Hardin Valley. The fourth candidate, Knox
County Council PTA president Sandra Rowcliffe, is a vocal McIntyre supporter who has also been vocal in her criticism of teachers who oppose him. Prediction: Hill, whose husband, daughter and son-in-law are all former officeholders, is the most polished candidate in this bunch. Common wisdom is it’s her race to lose, although it will be difficult for her to break 50 percent in a crowded field, so she shouldn’t plan any extended vacations until after the August election. Rowcliffe will come in fourth. District 9 incumbent Pam Trainor, a strong McIntyre supporter, has drawn only a single challenger (albeit an exceptionally vigorous one), so this race will be decided in the primary. Prediction: Elementary school librarian (who will resign her job if elected) Amber Rountree takes her out.
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Shopper news • APRIL 14, 2014 • 5
Basketball is a simple game I never said I know it all, but I really thought I understood. Sixty-three years ago, as a high school senior, not yet 17, I concluded my only season as coach of eighth-grade basketball – undefeated and very confident. My mentor was not surprised. He had said “basketball is such a simple game, even you can teach it.” All you have to do is control time and space – and don’t give up the baseline. He explained that effort and positioning are key ingredients of defense and rebounding. He said shooting was a bit more complicated, that even the best players rarely made half their shots. He recommended
Marvin West
getting as close to the basket as possible before “putting it up.” He favored passing over dribble penetration but liked that the round ball delivered predictable bounces. He said 10 players were not enough to clutter the entire floor, leaving room for minor strategy. Way back then, he said caring for the basketball was critical; possession
equaled points. Some years later, when Dick Campbell was coach at Carson-Newman College, he invested considerable time in refining my knowledge. After that, I learned by watching a thousand practices conducted by Ray Mears at Tennessee. Sometimes I asked Stu Aberdeen what the heck he was doing. To tell you the truth, those men covered it. I’ve seen and heard 19 versions of the same information, but I haven’t learned a lot of sizzling new stuff. A few mysteries have come and gone: A motion offense absolutely requires movement. There are intelligent debates about when to call or not call timeout,
City salaries examined The city of Knoxville is layoffs, and/or (gulp) some essentially a service pro- form of tax increase. vider. It’s a people business. Right now that budget balancing process is in Mayor Rogero’s hands. City Council will begin its review of her proposed budget in Nick May, with a charter deadline of mid-June to have the Della Volpe new fiscal year budget in place by July 1st. Wages = $66 million: There are some 527 police As such, wages and re- (422 uniform) and 313 firelated fringe benefits make fighters, who (after trainup the largest part of the ing) start at a civil service city’s $183 million operat- pay scale of approximately ing budget (FY 2013-14). $32,300 and have salaries That includes employment that range up to $95,500 of 1,548 dedicated workers at the deputy chief level. and managers, who are paid The city also employs 287 a total of some $98 mil- public service workers, 82 lion, including $66 million in engineering, 54 in fleet in direct salaries and $32 maintenance and managemillion in various fringe ment, 47 full-time parks & benefits and pension contri- rec, and other workers. All butions this fiscal year. regular city employees (exLet’s take a closer look cluding top management) at those employment costs, work their way up through which are growing year over a series of civil service pay year. With current revenues grades, with step increases (mostly property and sales along the way, as they progtaxes) relatively flat, the ress in grade. Annual salpresent outlook calls for ary surveys adjust those pay a cut in services, possible scales to keep them com-
petitive. See Knoxville ordinances 2-450, -458 & -459 on www.municode.com. Fringe Benefits = $32 million: This includes some $9.8 million in health care benefits, $16 million in pension contributions (growing by $7.5 million next year to $23.4 million), plus some $8.6 million in other benefits, like visual and dental insurance, educational incentives and longevity. Mystery Money. You’ve already heard about the Automatic 2.5 percent pay raises for city workers, addressed at a recent City Council meeting – the issue there was to take this 30year old pay perk off autopilot and have all raises addressed by the administration in light of current budget, inflation and other economic facts. That was rejected amidst a highly-vocal worker outcry. But you may not have heard of Longevity Pay. City workers (after 4 years of service) also get longevity pay. This automatic
when to substitute, how to attack devilish zone defenses and whether to yell at blundering officials or just sit there and take it. In old age, I have acquired empathy for young people in knee pants, standing at the foul line with the season hanging in the balance, the weight of their coach’s job on their shoulders, a tick or three on the clock, one to tie, two to win. Delightful employment and many blessings allowed me to listen to and even question some of the all-time great coaches – Pat Summitt, Adolph Rupp, John Wooden, Dean Smith, Al Maguire, Coach K, even Bobby Knight – a couple of times more than I wanted.
“seniority pay” apparently entered the City’s budget during the inflation-stressed late 1970s. Workers get $120 x years of service (after first four years, up to a max of 20 years) added to their pay. Nice work if you can get it. So, for all the recent outcry about “just getting by” or needing “to put bread on the table,” these two automatic pay increases – wholly aside from any scheduled step advances and merit pay under the civil service pay scales – can give workers an added 5 percent increase. Take, for example, a 42year old firefighter, who likely makes $50,000/ year. Theoretically, he could receive $1,400 to $1,800 in longevity pay (e.g. 15 yrs.
What I thought was a rich background did not prepare me for this absolutely crazy Tennessee season past. I cannot explain how a talented team can be so good some games and bad for others. Two or three times I thought the Volunteers could have given greater effort. Ongoing indecision at point guard was puzzling. There was the obvious question about tempo. The coach visualized one speed. Some players wanted to go faster. I was stunned by the segment of the season when those with the ball could not or would not throw it to Jarnell Stokes. The last time when he got it, I was surprised. Michigan wasn’t. Tennessee fans choose how to behave but the February myth of bringing back Bruce Pearl made Cuonzo
Martin’s job more difficult. Never saw anything like that. It was a pleasant development that the team countered with its best punch. It could have quit. As if the soap-opera season did not have enough quirky twists and turns, there was the phone call. Many felt certain Cuonzo was gone to Marquette, more money, less hassle and a better fit for a Midwestern staff. Some said go Zo. Some repented for past criticisms. As soon as the coach said he still loves Tennessee, some resumed worrying about his recruiting tendencies. Never has basketball, supposedly a simple game, been so confusing.
X $120), plus a 2.5 percent automatic pay raise of say $1,250. That’s nearly a $3,000 pay bump in one year without counting earned merit increases. To most folks, that might seem more than putting a little bread on the table. Don’t get me wrong, hard work deserves fair pay. That should be the job of modern pay scales, not vestiges of yesteryear. Such automatic increases compound pension and fringe costs, as they raise base pay under existing formulas. Taxpayer-financed wages should be transparent. Perhaps the mayor, as CEO, will look at all these costs.
Rogero hires Distler as director of transit
Nick Della Volpe represents District 4 on city council.
Marvin West welcomes reader response. His address is westwest6@netzero.com
Dawn Distler, a 27-year veteran in the field of public transportation, is Knoxville’s director of transit, hired by Mayor RogDawn Distler ero. Distler has been general manager of operations and maintenance for Davidson Transit Organization in Nashville since 2010. She previously was director of operations, managing a $7 million budget, 270 vehicles and, in fiscal year 2013, a total of 10.45 million rides.
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IS RISEN John 11:25-26 KJV:
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6 • APRIL 14, 2014 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news
Amy Cragg wrangles her kids as she fills out paperwork at the Mount Olive Elementary School Kindergarten Roundup. Mason, left, will start kindergarten in August; brother David is in first grade. Little sister Marilyn, at 2 and a half, will have her turn in a few years. Photos by Betsy Pickle
Katherine Geoghagan and daughter Jocelyn are excited about enrolling Jocelyn in kindergarten at Mount Olive. She’ll join brother Ian, who is in 3rd grade this year.
Playground building Parents and staff join to improve the grounds at UT’s Early Learning Center on White Avenue. The slide had been built into a dirt bank to avoid kids climbing a ladder, but then erosion became a problem. So a 10-hour Saturday workday saw old tires installed, and when pre-schoolers returned on Monday the slide was ignored for a new game of “jumping down the tires.” The project was coordinated by leaders Kathy Kidd and Katie Denton-Walls.
SOUTH
Kindergarten Roundup helps parents, kids get ready By Betsy Pickle There weren’t any critters, but there was a little bit of wrangling at the Mount Olive Elementary School Kindergarten Roundup last week. The Mount Olive library bustled with a mix of parents filling out paperwork and kids “helping” them. Eager older siblings encouraged the proceedings, while younger siblings seemed puzzled by the lack of attention they were getting. Roundups were held last Tuesday at all Knox County elementary schools. The big change this year is a state law determining the cutoff date for when children are
eligible for kindergarten. For the 2014-15 school year, children must be 5 years old by Aug. 15, 2014, to enter kindergarten. Halfway through the afternoon roundup, kindergarten teacher Meredith Meadows said things were going smoothly. She and her colleagues, Sandy Hale and Crystal Alama, who’ve taught kindergarten at Mount Olive for 11 years and six years respectively, were hoping to see higher numbers than in 2013. “We would like more than we had last year,” said Meadows, who’s in her second year teaching kindergarten and third year at
open
Mount Olive. “Right now we have 35 in kindergarten, so we have really small class sizes, which is great, but we want to keep three kindergartens.” The Kindergarten Roundup benefits parents, students and schools. Parents and kids “can come and take a tour of the school,” said Meadows. “They can ask us questions about kindergarten. They get to see the other kids who might be with them in class, and they get to talk to the teachers, and they’re ahead of the game.” There will not be another roundup this year, but parents can still register their
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kindergartners, and they should do so at the schools their children are zoned to attend. “We encourage them to come and drop off their forms in the office,” Meadows said. “At the beginning of the year, we’ll have an open house where they can come and meet us and see the other kids.” One special feature at Mount Olive is the Arts 360 program, which integrates arts with academics. “We do a lot of Arts 360 stuff because it fits really well with our curriculum,” said Meadows. “We do it in all subjects, and it’s just like an extension of their learning.”
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Shopper news • APRIL 14, 2014 • 7
Ron and Clytie Fagan run Fagan Jewelers If you think all jewelry stores are the same, you haven’t been to Fagan Jewelers. Ron and Clytie Fagan started in the jewelry business in 1990 with fundraisers for hospital volunteers. Soon they had jewelry on
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consignment in eight hospital gift shops. Fast forward to 2014 and you will find a true family business with not only unique jewelry but amazing customer service. Located next to Chop House
News from Pellissippi State - Magnolia Campus
business
on Chapman Highway, the treasured for a lifetime. With natural wood displays give the latest technology, he can this store an earthy feel. even show you exactly how the piece Ron’s background seems will look and totally unrelated to the jewelry business. Formerly a RV make changtech, he laughs and says, “I es before he used large torches and weldstarts the actual work. ers and traded them for small If you are torches and welding – but I still get my hands dirty.” a first-time The experience of workvisitor to ing with the public and the store, Ron Fagan allow time problem-solving is what has made his jewelry business to view the amazing invenso successful. tory. The Southern Gates Need a custom designed Collection is created from ring or other piece of jewelry? fence and gate designs from Ron says that is a main part Savannah’s antebellum of the business and the most homes. The exclusive Barfun. He loves creating one- bara Garwood Collection is of-a-kind pieces that will be handmade from Mongolia
using an old art form. Both are incredible. Fagan Jewelers is also Knoxville’s exclusive dealer for A r tcar ved Bridal. It c a r r ie s watches from Citizens, Bulova, CaraClytie Fagan velle and Charles Hubert. Fagan’s also buys gold and makes repairs. The store is open 10 to 6 Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays 10 to 4. Info: www.faganjewelers.com or 579-4003.
News From The Register Of Deeds
Healthy property sales, sluggish lending
Jenny Kitts, Rodney Simpson, Candice Dendy, Phyllicia Washington and Druscilla Robertson, I Am gospel ensemble, will perform April 15 in a free concert at Pellissippi State.
Gospel ensemble to give Easter performance at Pellissippi By Heather Beck The I Am gospel ensemble performs a selection of favorite gospel hymns at a concert Tuesday, April 15, at Pellissippi State Community College’s Magnolia Avenue Campus. Beginning at 6:45 p.m. in the Community Room, the ensemble presents its Easter Celebration Concert. Light refreshments are available after the concert ends, about 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and the community is invited. “The gospel ensemble has been a wonderful addition to our campus. It’s one more way in which the diversity
of our campus is celebrated. This event is a highlight of our spring semester,” said Rosalyn Tillman, dean of the Magnolia Avenue Campus. The ensemble is composed of Pellissippi State students and is led by Candice Dendy, associate professor of transitional studies. The group sings primarily a cappella songs, along with a few selections with instrumental accompaniments. “We are presenting traditional hymns of Easter, as well as songs of worship and praise. We definitely want audience participation,” Dendy said.
The I Am gospel ensemble was formed in 2009. The group has performed seasonal concerts, at events such as the naming ceremony of the Joe Armstrong Building at the Magnolia Avenue Campus, and at various celebrations and open houses. “The name of the group was chosen by students as a representation of our goal: to sing about our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and God, who is the great ‘I Am,’” Dendy said. The Magnolia Avenue Campus is located at 1610 E. Magnolia Ave. Info: www. pstcc.edu/magnolia or 865329-3100.
Easter worship rship Sun, apr 20 • 10:30 0:30 am Northeast Knoxville
community Egg Hunt!
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By Sherry Witt Even as mortgage lending continued its slow pace, the local real estate markets fared quite well in March. For the month endSherry Witt ing March 31, there were 812 property transfers recorded in Knox County, compared to just 551 during February. The totals also topped last March’s figure by more than 100. The first quarter of 2014 produced almost identical data to 2013 in terms of total property sales. The aggregate value of land sold in March was just
under $148 million, besting February’s total by nearly $60 million, and also outpacing the March 2013 figure of $137 million. For the first quarter of 2014 approximately $432.7 million worth of property has sold in Knox County, some $50 million ahead of the 2013 pace. Despite encouraging numbers on the real estate side, mortgage lending markets continued to perform somewhat sluggishly. For the month, around $212 million was loaned against real estate in Knox County. While that was some $50 million more than the February total, it was well behind last March’s figure of $287 million, leading to speculation that refinancing
may have reached a saturation point. So far in 2014, about $636 million has been loaned in mortgage transactions in Knox County, compared to $1.03 billion during the first quarter of 2013. The largest real estate sale of the month was for a property on Clinch Avenue in the Fort Sanders community. The parcel sold to Pinecrest 1505 Clinch LLC for $3.4 million. The most notable mortgage recording was a loan for $23,085,000 financing several Captain D’s properties in the area. With the beauty of an East Tennessee spring upon us, I would like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and joyous Easter. Sherry Witt is Knox County Register of Deeds
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8 • APRIL 14, 2014 • Shopper news
Instructors such as local favorites Greg Horne, Jessica Watson and Ben Maney make the Community School of the Arts a real destination for young aspiring musicians. The stellar faculty also includes Knoxville Symphony members and many other local luminaries in several disciplines.
Pianist Olivia Williams is a 7th grader at Carter Middle School. Her guardians are Linda and Garfield Morris of East Knoxville.
Young musicians ‘bloom’
FISH DAY
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Jeremiah Washington, 12, gears up for his performance at the Rhythm N Blooms Festival. With him is his proud mom, Yolanda, who works at ORNL and is also a musician.
Students from The Community School of the Arts gathered at “The Village” in the Old City recently to add their own kind of music to Knoxville’s Rhythm N Blooms Festival. Founded in 1992, CSA provides quality instruction in all the arts to children ages six to 18. Located at First Presbyterian Church downtown, the school has been named “one of the top arts- and humanities-based programs in the country” by
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The school’s executive director, Jennifer Willard, enjoys watching “her” kids performing on such a beautiful day. She is herself a talented painter and multi-media artist.
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For these reasons, his service to his country, state and county, I respectfully ask all my friends living in Knox County to vote for, support and elect Billy Stokes as Judge, Div. 1, Knox County Circuit Court. - Retired Four Star General, Carl Stiner
Elect
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www.BillyStokesforJudge.com Born and raised in Knoxville, attended Beaumont Elem. & Rule Jr-Sr. High, raised his own family here 30+ years of litigation experience before the courts Peer rated AV Lawyer by Martindale-Hubble (Rated: Preeminent) Tennessee Supreme Court Listed R. 31 Mediator Veteran (Active Duty 1979-1982), Honorably Discharged as CPT, Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), U.S. Army Former Juvenile Counselor, Knoxville Police Department (KPD) Worked a full time job while paying his way through law school at the University of Tennessee Member of American Legion, Post 2; American Legion Riders; Master’s Lodge #244, F&AM; Knoxville Scottish Rite; The National Rifle Association (NRA); and The Federalist Society Member of the American, Tennessee and Knoxville Bar Associations Member of the Hamilton Burnett Inn of the American Inns of Court Former member of Governor Don Sundquist’s Cabinet, initially appointed Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Employment Security. Promoted to Governor Sundquist’s Senior Staff as Special Assistant to the Governor Former Knox County Republican Party Chairman Mayor’s appointee to the City of Knoxville Civil Service Merit System Board for ten years Appointed to a City-County Government Efficiency Committee by the Knox County Mayor Appointed to the Board of the Knoxville/Knox County Public Building Authority and was elected Chairman of that body in 2010. Appointed to the Knox County Charter Review Committee by Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. Co-author of Unemployment Compensation, Survey and Update, Labor Law Journal, 47 (9) at 602-612, September 1996; Bad Faith: General Application in the Insurer-Insured Relationship, Lorman Education Services, 2007; and various letters and guest columns published in magazines and newspapers, including three articles published in The Congressional Record. Served as the Governor’s appointee to the Juvenile Justice Reform Commission Served on the Board of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Services Agency, appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen Serves on the Boards of the Museum of Appalachia and Golden Gloves Charities, Inc. Volunteered as an attorney for indigent clients through the KBA Pro Bono project Active in the Knoxville community and served on several nonprofit boards Billy and his wife Bay are both very active in Second Presbyterian Church
Vote Early: April 16- May 1 Republican Primary: May 6 Paid for by Committee to Elect Billy Stokes for 1st Circuit Court Judge- Treasurer- Howard Vogel & Kimberly Wood
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EXPERIENCE • Elected to 2 terms Knox County Commission for West Knox District and served as Vice-Chairman • Uniquely qualified to serve having experience in both the property assessors office and the trustee’s office
PERSONAL • Member Concord United Methodist Church • Graduated from UT with degree in Finance with Honors.
Republican Primary: May 6, 2014 Early Voting: April 16 - May 1, 2014
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SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • APRIL 14, 2014 • 9
Telling Knoxville’s stories:
A walk with Laura Still By Betty Bean “Walk the streets of a city torn in two by divided loyalties and then get an overview of the fighting from the observation deck of the Sunsphere. Spies, bridge burners, miracle shots, betrayal and battle.” Laura Still tells stories. She’s written plays and poetry and in the fall will publish “A Haunted History of Knoxville,” a book of ghost stories based on the guided walking tours of downtown she’s been conducting for the past couple of years. There’s the Civil War Tour (described above), a Ghost Tour, a Gunslinger’s Tour, a Musical History Tour, a Literary Heritage Tour and an Early Years Tour. She got the idea for Knoxville Walking Tours when she was working at the Visitors Center and tourists kept asking if she knew someone who could walk around with them and explain Knoxville history. When she told her boyfriend and business partner Brent Minchey about it, he thought she should give it a try. “He nagged me, and my friend Andie Ray nagged me, and the first tour started in June 2012,” she said. She has consulted with writer/ historian Jack Neely, who
Laura Still conducts a Ghost Tour. Photo submitted has given her access to all of his writings and research, and been a great source of encouragement. Still, whose poetry collection “Guardians” was published in 2009, would have gotten around to launching the walking tour business sooner, but she got a scholarship to study poetry at a Marilyn Kallett seminar in Auvillar, France, that was too good to pass up. “She teaches there every
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THROUGH TUESDAY, APRIL 15 Registration open for UT-led Wildflower Pilgrimage to be held April 15-19. Tickets: $75 per person for two or more days; $50 for single-day tickets; $15 students with ID. To register: http://www. springwildflowerpilgrimage.org. Info: 436-7318, ext. 222.
THROUGH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 Deadline for early team registration for the KARM Dragon Boat Festival. Early registration includes a discounted fee and other options. The KARM Dragon Boat Festival is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Info/to register: www.karm.org/dragonboats or 633-7625.
THROUGH SATURDAY, MAY 17 Tickets on sale for Tennessee Theatre’s annual “Stars on Stage” event. Kenny Rogers will headline the event, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 17. Proceeds will benefit the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation.
THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 8 Registration open for AMSE Science Explorer Camp for rising 5th, 6th and 7th graders. Two sessions: June 9-13, June 16-20. Info/to register: http://amse. org/visitors/summer-camps/.
MONDAY, APRIL 14 Tennessee Shines featuring Knoxville native Robby Hecht and The Sea The Sea, 7 p.m., WDVX studio, Knoxville Visitor Center, 301 S. Gay St. Broadcast on WDVX-FM, 89.9 Clinton, 102.9 Knoxville. Tickets: $10, at WDVX and www.BrownPaperTickets. com. Info: www.WDVX.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15 Computer Workshops: Word 2007 Basics, 5:30 p.m., East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St. Requires “Introducing the Computer” or equivalent skills. Info/to register: 215-8700. Parent workshop: “College Planning and Admissions,” 7-8:30 p.m., Lane Music in Franklin Square, 9648 Kingston Pike. Hosted by Collegiate Blueprint and Testing Solutions. Info: Jesse Hedrick, jesse@helpmytestscore.com; Laurie Brandow, Lbrandow@collegiateblueprint.com. UT Hospice Adult Grief Support Group meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., UT Hospice office, 2270 Sutherland Ave. A light supper is served. Info/reservation: Brenda Fletcher, 544-6277.
year, through the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and had been encouraging me to apply. I finally got an application in early enough to be eligible to go, and it was great! It was a work/study scholarship and all I had to do was wash dishes. People joked and called me Cinderella, but it really wasn’t very hard and it didn’t interfere with writing poetry.” Originally from the TriCities, Still came to Knox-
ville when she was 20 to take her first job as a dental hygienist. “I was going to stay a couple of years, but here I am, 34 years later, still here. Knoxville does that to you.” She is the mother of two sons, Winston and Brennan Sullivan. Winston is an opera singer with a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of West Virginia in Morgantown. Brennan is a
freshman at ETSU majoring in pre-physical therapy, but is also a talented singer and actor who sometimes helps with the walking tours when he is in town. Church Street United Methodist Church has been a big part of her family’s life and was the inspiration for a 2010 book of plays she wrote after participating in a children’s drama workshop. She teaches Sunday school there and has participated in 14
annual nativity pageants. Her job as a dental hygienist went away when the dentist she worked for shut down his practice, and she has worked at Three Rivers Market in recent years. Her tour business is growing, and she does them yearround, except for January and February. The cost is reasonable ($10-$30), and she can be reached at 865309-4522 or at tours@ knoxtour.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
1101 N. Broadway. Festival Eucharist, 10:30 a.m., followed by Easter Egg hunt. Info: 523-5687.
Book Sandwiched In lunch and learn, noon, East Tennessee History Center auditorium, 601 South Gay St. Topic: “Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know” by Robert Paarlberg, presented by UT history professor Dr. John Bohstedt. Info: 215-8801.
MONDAY, APRIL 21
THURSDAY, APRIL 17 Parent to Parent Support meeting for parents of children with mental health diagnoses, 6-8 p.m., K-TOWN Youth Empowerment Network, 901 E. Summit Hill Drive. Info: Alicia, 474-6692 or abanks@tnvoices.org. Empty Bowls charity event, 6-8 p.m., Einstein Bros. Bagels, 11693 Parkside Dr. All donations to benefit Fish Pantry, associated with the United Methodist Church. Last seating, 7:30. Tickets: Farragut High School office, 966-9775 during school hours; or stop by Einstein Bros. Bagels. Hosted by Einstein Bros. Bagels and Farragut High School chapter National Art Honor Society (NAHS). Maundy Thursday Service, 7 p.m., Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway. Info: 690-1060; www.beaverridgeumc.com. Maundy Thursday, Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar, 7 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church, 1101 N. Broadway, Knoxville. Info: 523-5687.
FRIDAY, APRIL 18 Concert of Darkness, 7 p.m., Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, 616 Fretz Road. Admission is free; $5 donation suggested. Info: www.westsideuuc.org. Good Friday Service, noon, Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway. Info: 6901060; www.beaverridgeumc.com. Good Friday Litergy, noon, St. James Episcopal Church, 1101 N. Broadway. Stations of the Cross, 1 and 3 p.m.; Good Friday Liturgy, featuring the chant ensemble Orison, 7 p.m. Info: 523-5687.
SATURDAY, APRIL 19 Poets Marilyn Kallet and Keith Norris will read, 3 p.m., Historic Westwood, 3425 Kingston Pike. Part of Poets for Preservation spring poetry series. Refreshments served. Guests invited to look around the newly restored mansion after the readings. Girls on the Run 5k, 9 a.m., West Bicycles in the Village Green Shopping Center, 11531 Kingston Pike. Day of registration, 8 a.m., $25. Online registration, http://www.gotrknoxville.org, $20. Info: http://www. gotrknoxville.org. Free charity workout, 9 a.m., Unlimited Training Systems, 142 N. Martinwood Road. Sponsored by EdFinancial Services to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee. Suggested donation: $10. Thunder Road 2014, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., American Commissary, 1209 E. Broadway in Lenoir City. Book signing by “Return to Thunder Road” author Alex Gabbad; appearance by Rick Toombs. Cars from all eras welcome. No entry fee. Info: 816-3519.
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
Tennessee Shines featuring The Naughty Knots, 7 p.m., WDVX studio, Knoxville Visitor Center, 301 S. Gay St. Broadcast on WDVX-FM, 89.9 Clinton, 102.9 Knoxville. Tickets: $10, at WDVX and www. BrownPaperTickets.com. Info: www.WDVX.com. Application deadline for Biscuit Baking Contest held during the International Biscuit Festival. Finalists will bake live at the Festival. Info/applications: www. BiscuitFest.com. “Massacre at Cavett Station,” 6 p.m. Cedar Bluff Branch Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive. Info: 470-7033.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 Knoxville Writers’ Group meeting, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Naples Italian Restaurant, 5500 Kingston Pike. Guest speaker: bestselling Irish author Glenn Meade. All-inclusive lunch: $12. RSVP by Monday, April 21: 983-3740.
THURSDAY, APRIL 24 Boutique sale preview party and silent auction to benefit Knoxville Habitat for Humanity, 5:308:30 p.m., The Gallery of Knoxville, 7240 Kingston Pike. Tickets: $25. Info/tickets: 523-3539, https://www. knoxvillehabitatforhumanity.com/boutique. Parent to Parent Support meeting for parents of children with mental health diagnoses, 6-8 p.m., KTOWN Youth Empowerment Network, 901 E. Summit Hill Drive. Info: Alicia, 474-6692 or abanks@tnvoices. org. Free acrylic painting demonstration by artist Terry Chandler, 5-7 p.m., Art and Frame Outlet, 10811 Kingston Pike. Light hors d’oeuvres served; free handsigned print from the artist. Everyone invited.
THURSDAYS, APRIL 24-MAY 22 Diabetes Management Series, 6:30 p.m., Knox County Health Department auditorium, 140 Dameron Ave. Free five-part series; open to the public. To register: 215-5170.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 UT Science Forum speaker: Pete Claussen, founder and CEO of Gulf and Ohio Railways Inc. and Knoxville Locomotive Works, noon, Room C-D of Thompson-Boling Arena. Topic: “Green Locomotives.” Free and open to the public. Info: http://scienceforum.utk.edu. ARTitude 2014 – Inspired Creations Celebrating Courage and Survivorship, 7-10 p.m., Atrium at Cherokee Mills, 2230 Sutherland Ave. Features a silent auction, as well as an Artist Marketplace. All proceeds benefit Cancer Support Community. Info: 546-4661; www.CancerSupportET.org; or Margaux Cowan-Banker, MCowan-Banker@CancerSupportET.org.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 25-26
Sunrise Service, 7 a.m., Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway. Easter Sunday Worship Service, 9 and 11 a.m. Info: 690-1060; Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Fountain Lanes, 3315 N www.beaverridgeumc.com. Broadway St. Times: 4-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. SatEaster Vigil, 6:45 a.m., St. James Episcopal Church, urday. To register a team: www.BowlForKidsToday.org.
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