May 7, 2013 by The Loafer

Page 2, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 3

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Volume 27 Issue #19

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www.theloaferonline.com • info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) /5=-FE`6'($-/;()-2$%2(P=-.*a/5B()6%&%29 G$$*/5B()6%&(.(26&*/)(*/==(F6(5*/25*F"#$%&'(5*#E*6'(*F"#$%&'()*"F-2*6'(*)(F)(&(26/6%-2*6'/6*6'(*/9(2=E*/25\-)*/5B()6%&()*%&*/"6'-)%b(5*6-*F"#$%&'*6'(*(26%)(*=-26(26&*/25*&"#c(=6*./66()*6'()(-;PV'(*/9(2=E*/25\-)*/5B()6%&()*d%$$*%25(.2%;E*/25* &/B(*6'(*F"#$%&'()*'/).$(&&*;)-.*/2E*$-&&*-;*(QF(2&(*)(&"$6%29*;)-.*=$/%.&*-)*&"%6&*#/&(5*"F-2*=-26(26&*-;*/2E*/5B()6%&(.(26I%2=$"5%29*=$/%.&*-)*&"%6&*;-)*5(;/./6%-2I$%#($I)%9'6*-;*F)%B/=EIF$/9%/)%&.I/25*=-FE)%9'6*%2;)%29(.(26P

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A Mother’s Day Weekend to Remember Heartwood is the Place to Be This Year to Celebrate Your Mom

Every May, we take time to celebrate the most important women in our lives – our mothers. And this year, Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway has a weekend jam packed with activities your mom will love. On Saturday, stop by for live music from Southwest Virginia’s most talented youth musicians. The 2nd Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival will feature 15 bands on two stages for a day full of great music and good food. While at Heartwood, don’t forget to grab one of Betsy K. White or Joanne Anderson’s new books and have it signed. They will be signing starting at 10 a.m. Then on Sunday, bring your mom to Heartwood’s special Farm Fresh Mother’s Day Brunch. Chef Barry Boothe has hand crafted a decadent menu that pairs Southern breakfast staples like White’s Mill yellow grits, bacon, and biscuits and gravy with hand craved M&A farm prime rib, Virginia Blue Crab cakes, fried chicken and much more. Then enjoy handmade desserts and cobbler with Homestead Creamery Ice Cream while listing to live music from Bland County’s own Ron Ireland. There is something for everyone at Heartwood, so whether your mom loves heritage music or handmade craft, Southwest Virginia wine or local food, celebrate her at Heartwood. For more Mother’s Day weekend information, visit !"#$%&''()*$+*,*#-'$+. '$. /*,(. %0"1. on Facebook. To make reservations for brunch, call them at 276‐492‐2400.

Saturday, May 11 The Crooked Road Youth Music Festival | 10 a.m. ‐ 7 p.m. | $5 adults, $2 kids Join us for a day of music! The festival features youth performers from Southwest Virginia – 15 bands on two stages, plus instrument displays and Heartwood’s signature BBQ menu. Joanne Anderson Book Signing | All Day Meet Joanne Anderson, author of A Noble Spirit and Small Town Restaurants in Virginia. Anderson will be signing books and giving away prizes to those who stop by. Betsy K. White Book Signing | All Day Join author Betsy White, author of Great Road Style, as she celebrates her newly released book Backcountry Makers: An Artisan History of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Sunday, May 12 Mother’s Day Brunch | 10 a.m. ‐ 4 p.m. | $21.95 adults, $7.95 kids 12‐6, Kids 5 under free Join us for this special Farm Fresh Gospel Brunch on Mother’s Day. Our signature brunch menu hand‐crafted by Chef Barry Boothe is the perfect way to celebrate your mom! To reserve a spot, call us at 276.492.2400. Reservations recommended. About Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway Heartwood is the gateway to Southwest Virginia’s rich culture and creative economy. Here you can see the work of $"+*',#2. #$%*3#,3. #,(. 143*5*#,3. #,(. /*,(. out about Southwest Virginia’s history, heritage, outdoor recreation and scenic 6"#4%7. 8*#. 3%'$*"3. #,(. /*$3%9:"$3',. narratives.

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Virginia Ballroom to Present Mother’s Day Luncheon with The Charles Goodwin Trio Greenhouses. For more information or to make credit card reservations by phone, call the Virginia Ballroom #%. BCD-DB>-E<;;-. F"3"$8#%*',3. may also be made in person at the Ballroom, located at 300 Senior Drive – just off White’s Mill Road – in Abingdon. Payment – check, cash, or credit card ‐ is required upon reservation. A Mother’s Day Luncheon, featuring the legendary Charles Goodwin Trio, will be held Sunday, May 12, at Abingdon’s Virginia Ballroom. Pairing delicious food with beautiful music, this special tribute provides the perfect way to say “thank you” to the mother(s) in your life. The luncheon will begin at 12:30 pm and will continue through 2 pm. A buffet‐style menu, prepared by Chef Stephen Gilbert, will feature: Chilled Shrimp; Assorted Fresh Fruits; Carving Station with Beef Tenderloin and Pork Tenderloin; Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Early Green Peas with Mushrooms; Scalloped Tomatoes; Sawdust Salad; Hot Rolls & Butter; Mocha‐ Iced Brownies; and Italian Cream Cake. Coffee, tea and water will also be provided. A cash bar will be available. Goodwin, a Grammy‐ nominated icon, organized 0*3. /*$3%. 6#,(. *,. ;<=>?. #,(. has performed with big band royalty, including Bob Crosby, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Charlie Spivak. He has also been the featured artist with Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians, and The Charles Goodwin Orchestra performed over 1,000 concerts, many sell‐outs. The Charles Goodwin Trio, formed in 1974, features Goodwin on piano, son Fred Goodwin on bass, and Eddie Dalton on drums. Cost of the luncheon is $35 per person, $15 for children 10 and under, with all proceeds 6","/*%*,+. @6*,+(',. A",*'$. Center. Advance reservations are required by May 5. Support for this event is provided, in part, by Food Country and Indoor Farms

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2nd Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder, New Spring Valley Boys, and the Loose Strings Band are a few of the region’s outstanding young artists that will perform at 2nd Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival at Heartwood on Saturday, May 11th. 15 bands will be featured in performances on

two stages throughout the day. “The level of musicianship among the youth in this region is amazing, and this festival is a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of that talent,” said Jonathan Romeo, Program Manager for The Crooked Road’s Traditional Music Education Program. The festival will also highlight groups representing area traditional music programs such as the Mountain Music School String Band, Honaker FFA Bluegrass Band, the

WiseJAMS String Band, and the Virginia Highlands Community College Old Time String Band. Additional performers include Tyler Hughes, Cathrine Conner & Friends, Raisin’ Cain, the Yates Family Band, Travis Starkey & Cheryl Lunsford, and Valley Grass. Crooked Road Youth Music Festival Highlights Regional Performers The Crooked Road region

Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder ‐ Photo Credit Debbie Frye

Loose Strings Band ‐ Photo Credit Leah Prater is well known for its musical history, but the future looks just as bright. The 2nd Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival at Heartwood on Saturday, May 11th will present some of the most talented young performers in the region. 15 bands will be featured in performances on two stages throughout the day. Festival performers include Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder, New Spring Valley Boys, Loose Strings Band, Tyler Hughes, Cathrine Conner & Friends, Raisin’ Cain, Yates Family Band, Travis Starkey & Cheryl Lunsford, Butcher Family, Valley Grass, and Kitty Amaral. The festival will also highlight groups representing area traditional music programs including Mountain Music School String Band, Honaker

FFA Bluegrass Band, WiseJAMS String Band, and Virginia Highlands Community College Old Time String Band. “With youth artists you are 'G%",./*,(*,+.'4%.#6'4%.%#2",%"(. performers you didn’t even know about. That’s what makes it especially exciting. Sometimes they are learning so fast that ones who don’t attract much attention one year are dropping jaws the next year.” said Jack Hinshelwood, Executive Director of The Crooked Road. A beginner Contra Dance Workshop with caller Phoebe Williams from Blacksburg will also take place from 6:00‐7:00 p.m. with music by New Spring Valley Boys.

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 7 Continued from page 6

Tyler Hughes ‐ Photo Credit Eddie Kilbourne

Tyler Hughes Featured in The Crooked Road Youth Music Performance Series at Heartwood The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail proudly presents a concert by Tyler Hughes on Thursday, May 9th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway in Abingdon, Virginia. The concert is part of The Crooked Road’s Youth Music Performance Series. Born in the coal mining town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Tyler Hughes has been exploring the world of Old Time music since age 12. Tyler found his love for Old Time banjo several years ago and continues his study of the instrument at East Tennessee State University where he is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies. He can be seen performing with several groups including

the Empty Bottle String Band, ETSU’s Old Time Pride Band, and around the Wise County area with The Generation Gap. Along with studying the traditions of Appalachian music, Tyler also teaches and promotes Old Time music through Mountain Empire Community College’s Mountain Music School. His most recent album, “Wise County Jail”, was released in October of 2012 and can be found at various retailers including Heartwood, The Post, and online at County Sales. The Crooked Road Music Series features youth music performers, as well as showcasing venues of the Crooked Road region. These events along with open jams on the 1st, 3rd, (and 5th) Thursday of every month are hosted at Heartwood. A complete schedule for the music series is available on The Crooked Road website at www.thecrookedroad.org or at www.heartwoodvirginia.org. The music series is sponsored by The Crooked Road, Heartwood, Virginia Commission for the Arts,

and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Crooked Road Youth Music Festival is sponsored by Heartwood, Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dominion, Guest Services Inc., Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Foundation for Bluegrass Music, the D’Addario Foundation, the Wayne C. Henderson Scholarship Program, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is 2'5#%"(. 'GG. H9>;. #%. IJ*%. ;=. *,. Abingdon, VA, and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia. The festival will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 6‐12, and kids 5 and under are free. For more information call (276) 492‐2409 or email: info@ thecrookedroad.org.

Page 8, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

Spark & Echo Acoustic Coffeehouse May 12th, 8pm

Sunday, May 12th?. >:1K. L"&. York husband‐wife duo Spark & Echo will perform at The Acoustic Coffeehouse (415 Walnut St) towards the end of %0"*$./*8".&""M?.3"8",.3%#%"?.":*5. road trip tour. Spark & Echo is a family band of songwriting‐storytellers led by husband and wife duo Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Zempel. Their music brings forgotten poetry and wild stories from the Bible to life: visions of sparkling wheels in the sky, hunger and thirst, and legends of love as strong as death weave with memorable melodies and captivating rhythms. Drawing from a classical background, *,/24",5"(. 67. %0". :*#,*31. 'G. Rufus Wainwright and Ben Folds, and emulating Paul Simon’s narrative techniques, Spark & Echo sings epic tales of love and adventure. They have a dual vision: as a band, they make music; as a ,',9:$'/*%?. %0"7. 3""M. %'. N5$"#%". the world’s largest multi‐ disciplinary ‘illumination’ of the Bible.” Spark and Echo Arts engages artists from a diversity

of styles and backgrounds working in the top of their /*"2(-. O0". 6#,(. +$"&. '4%. 'G. and raises funds for the non‐ :$'/*%-. @. +#22"$7. 'G. &'$M. %0"7. have commissioned over the years can be found at www. sparkandecho.org. They’ve just released their second full‐length album Inheritance which was recorded and co‐produced with the Foote brothers (Welcome Wagon). Their voices harmonize like “it was meant to be”, as they dance around complex stories with a whimsy all their own. You’ve got to experience it /*$3%0#,(.#,(.P'*,.%0"1.',.%0*3. journey of a lifetime. Details: FREE Sunday, May 12th?.#%.>:1 The Acoustic Coffeehouse (415 Walnut St, Johnson City, TN)

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 9

10th Annual Kid Power Daniel Boone High School May 11th, 2pm

Come out for the region’s largest free community event, Kid Power, for kids of all ages from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Daniel Boone High School in Gray. Visit with The Cat in the Hat, meet the Kingsport Lifesaving Crew Heavy Rescue Bloodhound Search Team and see the Water Rescue Truck, search in the Gray Fossil Site Dig Pit, learn to bat with the Johnson City Cardinals, and get inside #,. ;>9&0""2"$. &*%0. O",,"33"". Trucking Association and see a real blind spot. See Wings helicopter land, get up close and meet the pilot. I,P'7. Q$#,(. A2#1. *,/2#%#62"3. and bounce in the Greeneville Astros Bounce room. Challenge yourself at the miniature Heart Adventure obstacle course with Washington County Coordinated School Health. Learn medical play at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Visit with local law ",G'$5"1",%?. /*$". /*+0%"$3. #,(. rescue personnel. See performances by Pop Art. Make a chicken puppet and experience tons of fun and games at each indoor booth. Play corn hole, get your face painted, or get temporary tattoos. Kids are eligible for dozens of prizes. Marathon Ministries will be on

hand to give away free clothing and other supplies to families. “It seems like just yesterday &". 0"2(. '4$. /*$3%. "8",%?R. 3#*(. Anne Newton, Kid Power Media Chair. “But eleven years later, it’s 3%*22. #. 8"$7. "J5*%*,+. "8",%. /*22"(. for every age group. Kids play, learn, compete and have fun and parents can discover what’s available in their communities. What more could you ask for?” You must be present to win one of the dozens of giveaways. Drawings will be from the main stage. Many of the 40 organizations will also have giveaways. It’s free to park, free to get in and free register for dozens of prizes. Food vendors include Sno Biz and Boone Trail Baptist Church. Sponsors are Frontier Health, Tennessee Voices for Children, Niswonger Children’s Hospital, Washington County Coordinated School Health, Daniel Boone High ROTC and School Council, Washington County Department of Education, Kingsport Lifesaving Crew, Holston Valley Broadcasting and Cumulus Broadcasting. For more information, call Anne Newton at (423) 467‐3600.

Page 10, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

The Redheads Britta-n-Brooke Acoustic Coffeehouse May 10th, 10pm Stan Munsey, current keyboardist for the multi platinum selling band Shenandoah, calls The Redheads a country version of the band “Heart”. Rich vocals, smooth harmonies, intricate guitar work and an unique style full of passion, these girls not only rock country music, they

have plenty of heart. When Brooke was eleven years old, she was trampled by her horse and found herself in bad shape. She had trouble walking for a full year. During that time, Brooke discovered the healing power of music which in time led the girls to become a duo. Britta and Brooke now 25 and 22, respectively, sculpt their songs to express an array of emotions from tender heart felt ballads to upbeat feel good tunes. The girls perform with strength and integrity while leaving their audience with a memorable experience. The Redheads Britta NBrooke are playing The Acoustic Coffeehouse May 10th at 10pm. They can be found online at www. theredheads.net

CASA’s 5th Annual Benefit Ride May 11th CASA of Northeast Tennessee will hold its 5th @,,4#2. S","/*%. T'%'$5752". F*(". ',. A#%4$(#7?. T#7. 11th at Smith Brothers Harley Davidson in Johnson City. Registration begins at 10:00am and the ride starts at 11:00am. A $10 donation is requested per $*("$-. O0". /*$3%. BU. $*("$3. $"+*3%"$"(. &*22. $"5"*8". #. free Tshirt. WQUT FM 101.5 TriCities Classic Rock will be broadcasting throughout the day. Food and drinks will be provided after the ride and entertainment by the Wolf Creek Band starting at 12pm. There will also be a corn hole tournament from 1pm3pm. To be a sponsor or for more information :2"#3".5',%#5%.%0".'G/*5".#%.=BE9=D;9EVUU.'$."1#*2. admin@casanetn.org. The mission of CASA of Northeast Tennessee is to recruit, train, monitor and support community based volunteers to act as Court Appointed Special Advocates. These volunteer advocates “speak up” for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the Juvenile Courts of Northeast Tennessee, striving to preserve CASA of Northeast TN the right of each child to a safe, permanent home.

May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 11

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Gideon’s Rifle

Acoustic Coffeehouse May 8th 10pm

Kentucky based string band

well versed classically trained

Q*("',W3. F*/2". 0#3. #(("(. X'03',.

143*5*#,3. /*,(3. Q*("',W3. F*/2".

City’s Acoustic Coffeehouse to

irreverently sliding in and out

their spring tour. It will be a free

of Americana, Folk, Country,

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Bluegrass, and full on classical

10pm. They will be releasing our

orchestration.

new EP, Other Places on this tour. Formed in the spring of 2012 by lead songwriters Shannon Vetter and Alexander Coltharp. Q*("',W3. F*/2". 3'',. #(("(. Kimberly McDaniel on mandolin and former Cascade Hollow band member Jake Siener on upright bass. Cellist Byron Farrar was recruited, as was Jake, from the University of Louisville’s music performance program. Z$"('1*,#,%27.

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by traditional American roots music and Kentucky bluegrass, Q*("',W3. F*/2". 0#3. #. 3%$',+. focus on vocal harmonies and arrangement/orchestration guided by the classical training of its members. The combination of self taught folk musicians and

The spring of 2013 has Q*("',W3. F*/2". %'4$*,+. %0". Southeast with dates in May including but not limited too: Dunedin, St, Petersburg, DeLand, Jacksonville, Johnson City, Nashville, Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnatti, Owensboro, Paducah, Murray, and Carbondale, St. Louis, and Lebanon. Josh Coffey of Bawn in the Mash, Emily Caudill of Blunt Honey, Blair Joseph of the Bridge 19,and Ryan Cothron of Echo Gray, just to name a few, are all included in the rotating second lead instrumentalists you can /*,(. :2#7*,+. &*%0. Q*("',W3. F*/2". on any give date! Instrumentation Shannon Vetter ‐ Guitar, Piano, Kazoo, Percussion, Harmonica, Slide Whistle Alex Coltharp ‐ Banjo, Guitar, Percussion Byron Farrar ‐ Cello Josh Coffey ‐ Violin, Viola Jake Siener ‐ Upright Bass Kimberly McDaniel ‐ mandolin Discography Other Places E.P. written, recorded, and produced by Q*("',W3.F*/2"

Page 12, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

Adam Steffey & The Boxcars Carter Family Fold May 11th, 7:30pm

Saturday, May 11th, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by Adam Steffey & the Boxcars. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. An east Tennessee native, Adam found a place in the Tennessee‐Virginia border area’s thriving bluegrass scene in short order, serving early stints with the Lonesome River Band (Dan Tyminski was his replacement there) and then helping to found

the near legendary group, Dusty Miller, along with Barry Bales and guitarist Tim Stafford. The three jumped to the big time together when Alison Krauss recruited them into Union Station; and for nearly seven years, Steffey lived the life of #. 0*+0. :$'/*2". 143*5*#,. #3. %0". band earned Grammy awards and IBMA trophies, toured extensively, made national TV appearances, and recorded albums that reached far beyond the core bluegrass audience. ["%. 67. ;<<>?. %0". $"3%2"33. 3*(". 'G.

Steffey’s spirit made itself felt when he left the group and, after helping to lay plans for what later became Mountain Heart, joined the bluegrass gospel group The Isaccs – a setting in which he played a different role. During his years with Alison Krauss and Union Station, Adam became good friends with Dan Tyminski ‐ thus leading to a slot as mandolin player for the Dan Tyminski Band. Adam is also an in‐demand session player and has recorded with numerous artists from various genres. He has received the mandolin :2#7"$. 'G. %0". 7"#$. #&#$(. /*8". times from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and is a Grammy award winner. Adam and his wife, Tina, are the proud parents of twin boys A.P. & Riley. The Boxcars’ last performance at the Fold was the /*$3%.143*5#2.'4%*,+.G'$.%0".6'73. – something we’re exceedingly proud of. Adam will be backed up by the Boxcars – Ron Stewart, John R. Bowman, Keith Garrett, and Harold Nixon ‐ all talented, professional, and accomplished musicians in their own right. Continued on page 13

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 13 Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a ,',:$'/*%?.$4$#2.#$%3.'$+#,*^#%*',. established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www. carterfamilyfold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at

Continued from page 12

Ron Stewart is well on the road to becoming a legend in contemporary bluegrass music. He is already one of the most sought after multi‐instrumental session players in the genre’s history, and is in high demand as an engineer and producer. He grew up in rural southern Indiana, an hour and a half from Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom bluegrass festival, surrounded by a family that played bluegrass and old time country music and a community rich with musicians. In his thirty‐three years of :2#7*,+.6#,P'?./*((2"?.+4*%#$?.6#33?. and mandolin, Ron has gone from fronting his family band for over ten years to working with a who’s who of bluegrass, including Lynn Morris, Curly Seckler, a guest appearance at age nine on a live album with Lester Flatt and, most recently, a six‐year stint #3./*((2"$.G'$.X-\-.]$'&".#,(.%0". New South, followed by a stint as a member of the Dan Tyminski Band. Notably, Ron engineered 1450. 'G?. #,(. :2#7"(. /*((2". ',?. the New South’s 2006 release – Lefty’s Old Guitar, which was nominated for a Grammy. How many folks can say they were born in Mayberry, worked for Alison Krauss, and are married to one of the Issacs? Well, one: John R. Bowman. A family move to Ararat, Virginia, and exposure to the rich musical heritage in that region eventually led to Doyle Lawson asking him to join Quicksilver in 1991. He stayed with the band a year and recorded four CDs with them. During the summer of 1991, he met back up with his old buddies from a group called Dusty Miller – Adam Steffey and Barry Bales. They were playing with a young lady from Champagne, Illinois, ‐ Allison Krauss. Alison asked him to join her band as Dan Tyminski was going back to the Lonesome River Band. John :2#7"(. &*%0. @2*3',. #6'4%. /*G%"",. months. In 1994, he married Becky Isaacs and worked with them on various levels for nearly ;>.7"#$3Keith Garrett grew up in the community of Citico in east Tennessee. His earliest and possibly most important musical *,/24",5". &#3. 0*3. (#(?. Y*22*#1. Garrett, who taught Keith to play the guitar at the age of thirteen. Almost immediately, he was

drawn to the music of such greats as Tony Rice, Keith Whitley, the Bluegrass Album Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and Ricky Skaggs. He soon began playing with various local and regional bands. In 2000, Keith became a founding member of Blue Moon Rising, an east Tennessee based bluegrass band that received national acclaim and was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006 by the IBMA. Keith continued to hone his talents and earned himself a place alongside some of the best bluegrass musicians. Harold Nixon has been a working musician since he was /*G%"",. 7"#$3. '2(?. #,(. 0#3. 0#(. an intense interest in recording almost from the beginning. With a keen ear and rock solid sense of rhythm and timing, he has gained the respect of the best in the business. His hard work paid off and led to a six year stint with J. D. Crowe and the New South, touring with the band, and appearing on %0". BUU>. Q$#1179,'1*,#%"(. release Lefty’s Old Guitar. Some recent work with Blue Moon Rising has kept him in the spotlight the past couple of years. Bluegrass just doesn’t get any better than Adam Steffey and the Boxcars. For more information on the group, go to www.theboxcars.com/. Don’t miss them at the Carter Family Fold! Bring along your dancing shoes and your friends, and be ready for some down home, family fun.

http://www.carterfoldshow. com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http:// thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the

National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, 5#22. BCD9E>D9DUV=-. . O0". _'2(. is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @ carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276‐594‐0676.

Page 14, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

Two New Bald Eagles Highlight Grandfather Mountain’s Behind-the-Scenes Tours & Keeper for a Day Program Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Habitat staff members lead a group on a Behind the Scenes Tour of the Animal Habitats. In April, the tours are offered at a discounted rate of $20 per person and participants will be able to see the Mountain’s new bald eagles that are currently off‐display to the public. Photo by Skip Sickler The spring at Grandfather Mountain brings with it beautiful &"#%0"$?. 64((*,+. &*2(/2'&"$3. and the opportunity for guests to enjoy Behind the Scenes Tours and the Keeper for a Day Program. This year, guests that sign up for such activities get the added bonus of being one 'G. %0". /*$3%. %'. 3"". Q$#,(G#%0"$. Mountain’s two bald eagles. It is an exciting time for the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats. Not only are there two feathered additions to the Mountain’s exhibition of North

Carolina indigenous wildlife, but the park is debuting a newly renovated, state‐of‐the‐art eagle habitat for the two raptors to call home. The best way to experience the new addition is to participate in a Behind the Scenes Tour or to take part in the Keeper for a Day Program.

Behind the Scenes habitat tours give the public an opportunity to see where the animals sleep, learn what it takes to care for them year‐round, observe a training session, and learn why the animals call Grandfather Mountain Continued on page 15

www.theloaferonline.com The Keeper For A Day program is perfect for those who want a more in‐depth look at the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats while getting their hands dirty. Participants are able to feed and care for the habitat animals alongside staff members. (Photo by Monty Combs)

>/E*WI*YXeR*3*V'(*7-/;()I*!/9(*eS Continued from page 14

their home. The Mountain’s knowledgeable and experienced keepers will gladly answer any questions as they guide participants on their tour. Behind the scenes tours are discounted to $20 (in addition to regular park admission) during the month of April to season pass holders and non‐season pass holders. Another excellent way to fully experience the wonder of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats is to enroll in the Keeper for a Day Program. This opportunity is $150 per person or $120 for season‐pass holders. There is also a three‐hour option for $75 per person or $60 for season pass holders. The full day option includes a t‐shirt, lunch with the animal caretakers and a full six hours of living the daily life of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats; feeding, cleaning and 5#$*,+. G'$. %0". /*8". 3:"5*"3. 'G. animals that call the Grandfather Mountain Habitats home. The half‐day option includes a t‐shirt in addition to three hours of the same hands‐on animal care.

The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is #. ,'%9G'$9:$'/*%. 5'$:'$#%*',. established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information about

Behind the Scenes tours, the Keeper for a Day Program, the new bald eagles or the new eagle habitat, please visit www. grandfather.com. '$. 5#22. `>B>a. 733‐2013.

WEDNESDAYS

!/9(*eUI*V'(*7-/;()*3*>/E*WI*YXeR

We Be “Jammin” In Abingdon On Thursdays

The Town of Abingdon has created a Thursday Jams concert series for the summer as part of the Abingdon Music Experience. Starting May 16th until September 19th, there will be nationally recognized bands showcased at the Abingdon Market Pavilion each Thursday. The concerts will start at 6:30pm and are FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. There will be food and beverage vendors serving BBQ, Hamburgers and Pizza. No coolers are allowed. The events will be held rain or shine. Schedule of Bands 5/16 Big Sandy and his Fly‐Rites 5/23 Firecracker Jazz Band 5/30 Hit and Run Bluegrass w/ Brothers Comatose 6/6 JD McPherson 6/13 Chatham County Line 6/20 The Broadcast 6/27 Terrence Simien and the Zydeco Experience 7/11 Pokey Lafarge Cb;>..O0".H+4#,#3 7/25 American Aquarium >b;V..]045M.Z$':0"% >bBB.....F'3*"._2'$"3 >bB<.....X#3',.\-.Y*22*#13 9/5 Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band 9/12 New Country Rehab 9/19 Chuck Mead and his Grassy Knoll Boys Z$'1'%*',3.G'$.%0"3"."8",%3.#$".6$'4+0%.%'.43.67.S',"/*$". Brands. For more information on the concerts, you can call 276‐676‐ BB>B.'$.8*3*%.&&&-#6*,+(',143*5"J:"$*",5"-5'1 Thank you to our Sponsors! Walling Distributing Company, BVU Authority, Capo’s Music Store, Charter Media, Comfort Inn of Abingdon, Eastman Credit Union, Johnston Memorial Hospital, Steel Fab, Thompson and Litton and Virginia Tourism Corporation

www.theloaferonline.com Abingdon Main Street has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four Point Approach methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings. “We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Valecia Crisafulli, acting director of the National Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the downtown in the economy head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.” The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by Virginia Main Street, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four Point Approach to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building

May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 17 comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public‐private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings. The mission of Abingdon Main Street is to work with local leaders, businesses, and residents to promote, support, preserve and enhance the downtown district’s history, culture, vitality and ensure its sustainability. “Abingdon is such a great place with all these unique assets, like our history, our arts venues, outdoor recreation and our local businesses,” says Abingdon Main Street Director, Susan Howard. “We’re thankful for the support of our town government and the community volunteers who share our passion for this amazing town.” Established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation *,. ;<>U?. %0". L#%*',#2. T#*,. Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 32 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $55.7 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 473,535 net new jobs and 109,693 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than BED?=;>. 64*2(*,+3?. 2"8"$#+*,+. #,. #8"$#+".'G.c;>.*,.,"&.*,8"3%1",%. for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.

Abingdon Main Street Receives 2013 National Main Street Accreditation

Page 18, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

Summers Past History Program Tipton-Haynes Historic Site Tipton‐Haynes State Historic Site will present its annual SUMMERS PAST HISTORY PROGRAM for 50*2($",.#+"3.D.d;B-.A*J./*8"9(#7.3"33*',3.&*22.6".'GG"$"(. between June 4 and July 13. Historic based crafts, music, storytelling, nature crafts, cave exploration, and outdoor fun and games will be offered. Each session will be limited to 20 participants. The sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to BKUU.:-1-.G'$."#50./*8"9(#7.&""M-.O0".5'3%.G'$."#50.3"33*',. is $100 for non‐members and $95 for members. There

is a reduced fee for two or more children from the same G#1*27-. Z#$",%3. 1#7. ($':. 'GG. 50*2($",. #%. >KUU. #-1-. #%. ,'. extra charge. Extended hours at $3.00 per hour per child are available until 5:00 p.m. New this summer, children will work in the slave and kitchen gardens with a Master Gardener. They will learn about worms, composting, plants eaten by the Indians, slaves, and early settlers. Session I – Native Americans will run June 10 ‐ 14 and again July 1 ‐ 5. This session will

highlight the history of the Northeast Tennessee Indians. Children will participate in a variety of activities including Indian bead weaving, archaeology, and making a pinch pot. Session II – Early Settlement will be held June 17 ‐ 21 and #+#*,. X427.>.d.;B.#,(. &*22. 30'&5#3".%0".Z*',""$ life of Colonel John Tipton. During this session children will make biscuits and butter, make a basket, make a candle, and much more. Session HHH. 9. ]*8*2. Y#$. &*22. %#M". :2#5". X4,". B=. d. B>. #,(. July 15 – 19 and will feature the Civil War history of our region and Confederate Senator Landon Carter Haynes. Some of the activities that kids will get to experience are tin punching, learning about Civil War photography by making blue print pictures, learn to spin wool and weave. The ever‐ popular “Carter’s Raid” will take place each week. In addition to these activities (which are just a few of many that will be offered during the course of the summer program) an historical drama performed by the kids will be presented to parents and relatives on the last day of each week. For additional information and application, please contact Tipton‐Haynes State Historic Site at 423‐926‐3631 or e‐mail tiptonhaynes@embarqmail.com.

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 19

Things My Mother Taught Me! Blue Moon Dinner Theatre

The Blue Moon Dinner Theatre, located at 215 East Main Street in Downtown Johnson City, is proud to present Things My Mother Taught Me, a brand new romantic comedy by Katherine DiSavino, author of the smash hit comedy !"#"$%& !"'()*+& ,#-./01%2& This heartwarming show is e brought to life onstage Friday y and Saturday nights May 10th through June 1st. With a special Mother’s Day matinee on Sunday May 12th. $. Olivia and Gabe are moving into n %0"*$. /*$3%. #:#$%1",%. %'+"%0"$-. They’ve just packed up all of their n belongings and driven halfway .across the country, to start a y new life together in Chicago. e Their moving day doesn’t go exactly as planned, though, and . things become slightly more s complicated when all of their n parents show up to help! Can a two bedroom apartment contain all of the love, laughs, worry and o wisdom that’s about to happen? ‐ This brand new comedy from e the author of Nana’s Naughty o Knickers takes a generational a look at relationships, and how d sometimes parents are passing r their best lessons on to their children without even meaning to. Funny and touching, this one s will make you laugh out loud and fall in love all over again. “Miss DiSavino traveled down n here from New York in 2011 to t see our production of Nana’s c Naughty Knickers and she has l been a friend of the Blue Moon ever since.” Says Artistic Director

Edward Breese “ She has a way with words and on top of that she is an amazing person. She told us then of a play she was working on that was semi autobiographical and we knew right away we wanted to put it on our stage.” The cast stars

Abbey Greer, Richard Knave, Debbie Shoun, Bill Campbell, Laura Berry, Angus Walton and Anthony Frazier. Set designed by Brandon Jones and Directed by Edward Breese. Enjoy a full night of entertainment all in one place. Dinner begins with our raspberry vinagarette house salad, followed by chicken cordon bleu, mixed vegetables and baked potato all followed by a serving of strawberry shortcake with fresh whipped cream brought out at intermission. Tickets are just 39.99 plus tax + gratuity and can be purchased by going online to www. bluemoondinnertheatre.com or 67. 5#22*,+. %0". 6'J. 'G/*5". #%. =BE9 232‐1350. Meal upgrades and vegetarian options are available with a 24 hour notice. The Blue Moon is a BYOB facility. Pictured: Richard Knave and Abbey Greer

Page 20, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

“Vanishing Appalachia” ETSU’s Reece Museum Exhibit Through June 30th

“Vanishing Appalachia,” a traveling exhibit from the East Tennessee Historical Society, will open at East Tennessee State University’s Reece Museum April 23 and continue until June 30. This exhibit combines Don Dudenbostel’s photographs and O'1. X"3%"$W3. /*"2(. $"5'$(*,+3?. based on their three years of research among moonshiners, serpent‐handlers, Mennonite G#$1"$3?.5'5M/*+0%"$3.#,(.'%0"$3. who still engage in traditional mountain practices. “By the mid‐1900s, outside perceptions and inside realities about the people living in Appalachia were beginning to emerge,” according to the East Tennessee Historical Society. “Some people played to the popularized ‘hillbilly’ 3%"$"'%7:". G'$. /*,#,5*#2. +#*,?. launching successful singing/ acting careers, building themed tourist attractions and marketing national products. Others sought to capitalize on the economic momentum created by the arrival of such federal initiatives as the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Manhattan Project. “Still others, like Don Dudenbostel and Tom Jester, came to realize certain aspects of mountain culture were disappearing in the face of progress.” Inspired by such famed 1930s photographers as Dorothea Lang and Walker Evans, Dudenbostel diligently went to work documenting this 542%4$"-..X"3%"$W3./*"2(.$"5'$(*,+3. accompany Dudenbostel’s

photographs and give the subjects a voice, allowing them to speak freely about their practices and traditions. Dudenbostel says he did not set out to preserve disappearing mountain culture. He started photographing things he found interesting, but as he noticed traditions slowly fading away, he began to document mountain life more aggressively. “I really had no concept over 50 years ago that time would change so quickly,” Dudenbostel said. “I just felt that it was important. Once this culture has disappeared, it’s not returning.” “Vanishing Appalachia” is one of four exhibits that will be on display when the Reece Museum reopens April 23 after being closed for two years for an extensive, $1.7 million renovation project. The other three are “We Shall Not Be Moved,” a traveling exhibition from the Tennessee State Museum that examines the civil rights sit‐in movement in Tennessee; newly commissioned paintings of ETSU by local artist Bill Bledsoe; and “Country Music in the Tri‐Cities.” The Reece Museum’s new hours will be 10 a.m.‐4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m.‐7 p.m. Thursday; and 10 a.m.‐3 p.m. Saturday. Admission will be free. Parking passes are available for weekday visits to the museum, and groups may call ahead for tour reservations. For more information or special assistance for those with disabilities, call the Reece Museum at (423) 439‐4392.

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 21

Culinary & Medicinal Herbs Workshop Doak House Museum May 10th & 11th

The Doak House Museum is offering opportunities to learn about growing, preserving and using herbs for culinary and medicinal purposes as part of workshops scheduled for May. The museum, located on the Tusculum College campus, is offering “Selecting and Growing Culinary Herbs” from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and “Medicinal Herbs” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Individuals may attend one session or both. “Selecting and Growing Culinary Herbs” will cover such topics as selecting herbs, growing 3:"5*/*5#%*',3?. 0#$8"3%*,+. G'$. immediate use, preservation and using herbs to enhance food. The workshop will also include an opportunity to taste and smell various herbs. An assortment of potted herbs will be available for each attendee to take home. “Medicinal Herbs” will explore selecting, growing or purchasing dried herbs for use to make medicines. Participants will make teas at the workshop to taste and will have the opportunity to taste several tinctures at the workshop. Workshop attendees will make salves and lip balm to take home. The session will include a demonstration of aromatherapy ‐ how aromas can help elevate, alter and enhance moods. Attendees at both workshops will be provided handouts that

will include instructions and other herbal information. The session about culinary herbs will be taught by Sandee Cook, Big Spring Master Gardener and community herbalist, and Joy Moore, a Northeast Tennessee master gardener. Cook will also teach the medicinal herbs workshop. The cost for the “Selecting and Growing Culinary Herbs” workshop is $20. For the “Medicinal Herbs” workshop, the cost is $25. Individuals attending both workshops will be charged $40. Space in the workshops is limited. To reserve a space in one or both of the workshops,

contact Leah Walker at the Doak !'43".T43"41.#%.=BE9DED9>VV=. or lwalker@tusculum.edu. The workshops are made possible in part by a grant from the East Tennessee Foundation’s Arts Fund for East Tennessee and assistance from the Big Spring

Master Gardeners and the UT @+$*542%4$".IJ%",3*',.eG/*5"The Doak House Museum and the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library are operated by the Department of Museum Program and Studies of Tusculum College. In addition to the museums, the department is responsible for the College Archives and offers one of the few undergraduate Museum Studies degree programs in the country. Visit the Web site at www.tusculum.edu/museums to learn more about the variety of programs offered at the museums.

Page 22, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

Herschel Telescope Goes Blind After Historic Mission A very special orbiting telescope has gone blind, but it will continue to open eyes about our Universe as the data is collected is mined for decades for decades of research. Herschel space observatory has exhausted its supply of liquid helium coolant, essential to cool the observatory’s instruments to near absolute zero. This coolant is what has allowed Herschel to observe the cold universe‐‐those objects ‐200 degrees below zero. The pride of the European

Space Agency, Herschel and it’s specially cooled, 11‐foot‐wide mirror was a worthy companion to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, still going strong in it’s 23rd year. The death of the Herschel Space Observatory was expected #6'4%. /*8". 7"#$3. #G%"$. *%W3. T#7. ;=?. BUU>. 2#4,50-. . !"$350"2. started with over 607 gallons of liquid helium. The helium has been slowly evaporating, and 5',/*$1#%*',. %0#%. %0". 0"2*41. *3. /*,#227."J0#43%"(.5#1".T#7.;3%.#%.

the beginning of the spacecraft’s daily communication session with its ground station in Western Australia when a clear rise in temperatures was measured in all of Herschel’s instruments Herschel made over 35,000 35*",%*/*5. '63"$8#%*',3?. amassing more than 25,000 hours of science data from about 600 observing programs with %0*3.#&"3'1".35*",%*/*5.%''-.O0". total cost of the program, from design, construction, launch and mission operations was about $1.5 billion. Except for observations performed less than 6 months ago all these data are publicly available through the Herschel Science Archive. Herschel is the largest telescope ever put into space &*%0. #. 1*$$'$. ;E>. *,50"3. &*(". (Hubble’s mirror is 96 inches). Designed to unravel mysteries about the creation of the stars, galaxies and planetary systems in the Universe, Herschel observed the cool, far infrared cosmic background, probing like a time machine back to Continued on page 23

www.theloaferonline.com Continued from page 22

the beginnings of interstellar clouds, the wombs of stars and unraveling the physics governing the formation of planetary systems and galaxies. Without a doubt, the discoveries of Herschel will be among some of the milestones of knowledge in astrophysics. Just like it’s namesake, Sir William Herschel, who discovered the planet Uranus and spent decades recording positions and sketching hundreds of deep sky objects with just his eyes and the largest telescopes around‐‐built by himself. With so many beautiful visions in our world of human eyesight, it is hard to imagine that we are just “seeing” a small part of our Universe. In fact, most of the world around us is invisible. Invisible, I say? Yes. Think of all the electrical waves passing through our buildings and even our bodies‐‐radio, tv, cell phone, and other hidden energies delivering incredible information. Scientists understand this “invisible world” around us.

May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 23 Their measuring device is the “electromagnetic spectrum,” a scale of energy output that all objects emit. Most of us realize there is a spectrum of colors in sunlight‐‐split into a rainbow of separate colors with a prism. That is the “visible spectrum,” which is just a tiny fraction of the entire Universe‐‐much of it undetected by human senses. Energy at different levels, or wavelengths, has differing properties. Thus the different frequency numbers for the dail on our radios, as well as television. There are the much lower frequency numbers of radio waves, and then the other extreme of highly excited frequencies of X‐rays and Gamma‐rays. We might not see these high energy or low energy frequencies with our human senses, but sometimes we can feel their often deadly effects in cosmic rays or potentially dangerous devices. X43%. ',". 35*",%*/*5. *,3%$41",%. can’t “see” the entire electromagnetic spectrum, just like a radio can’t be a microwave '8",-..A'.%0".35*",%*/*5.5'114,*%7. worldwide gets behind the one

machine built to investigate a narrow discipline‐‐like Herschel and the super cold elements of our Universe. NASA has had four telescope observatories rocketed into space: the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (1991‐ 2000), the Chandra X‐ray Telescope (1991‐current), the Spitzer Infrared Observatory (2003‐present) and the Hubble

Space Telescope (1990‐present) Only the Hubble is designed for 8*34#2.',27?.#,(.*%.5#,.43"./*2%"$3. to see its targets in different colors, which can reveal many dynamic characteristics of a physical object. The Herschel Space Telescope was put in an orbit called a “Langrangian Point” some 1 million miles from Earth, It’s

thrusters will place it in an orbit that won’t intersect with Earth, the demise of the great observatory being its collision with the Sun millions of years from now. Now useless, Herschel may be drifting aimlessly in space, but its mission has been accomplished, and the data it has mined will be analyzed for decades to come.

Page 24, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

www.theloaferonline.com Celestial events in the skies for the week of May 7‐13, 2013, as compiled for The Loafer Magazine by Mark D. Marquette. The evenings are moonless as we are in the week of New Moon phase, and that #GG'$(3.#.6"#4%*G42.,*+0%.3M7.'G.6$*+0%.3%#$3.#,(."#379%'9/*,(.5',3%"22#%*',3-..f''M*,+. north, the skies are dominated by the Big Dipper asterism of Ursa Major, while the skies in the south look sparse of stars in Virgo and Libra. Slithering along the southern horizon from east to west is Hydra the Snake and its dim stars‐‐yet it’s the constellation that covers the most sky. Facing south, we are looking out into the Universe from an opening in the starry arms of our Milky Way Galaxy, and there are hundreds of other galaxies to target in backyard telescopes. In the west, Gemini is the last of the winter constellations to set, while the spring stars of Leo the Lion and Bootes the Herdsman are high overhead. Finally, in the east, rising after midnight are %0"./*$3%.3*+,3.'G.%0".T*2M7.Y#7.#,(.%0".:#$#(".'G.3411"$.5',3%"22#%*',3.%0#%.G'22'&-.. Keep up with the quickly changing night sky by downloading a free guide at www. skymaps.com, or visit the library for a free book on stargazing. Tues. May 7 At 10 pm, three constellations are high overhead‐‐Leo the Lion on the west side, Bootes the Herdsman in the east, and the Big Dipper asterism in the north. In the middle of these three prominent star patterns are two obscure and often forgotten constellations‐‐Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici. Wed. May 8 Canes Venatici, the two dogs, are two barely visible stars between the bear herder, Bootes, and the Big Bear, Ursa Major. The dogs Asterion and Chara are being led around on a leash by Bootes, as they chase the Great Bear around the North Pole. Thurs. May 9 New Moon is today, with it being above the Sun in the daytime sky. Beginning Saturday, the thin crescent will be seen in the twilight, with the Moon climbing 12 degrees higher from the horizon each day. Fri. May 10 O0".*,(*3%*,5%.5',3%"22#%*',.]'1#.S"$",*5"3.2*%"$#227.$":$"3",%3.%0"./2'&*,+.0#*$.'G. Queen Berenices of Egypt. She cut her locks and donated them to the gods in heaven for returning her husband Ptolemy Euergetes from war in 230 BC. They ruled Egypt when Alexandria became a cultural center of the world. The constellation 6"5#1".'G/*5*#2.;DUB.&0",.*,524("(.*,.#.3%#$.5#%#2'+.67.%0".+$"#%.,#M"(9"7".\#,*30. astronomer, Tycho Brahe. The stars of Coma Berenices are related members of an ancient cluster, and the region is full of galaxies, far, far away.

>/E*WI*YXeR*3*V'(*7-/;()I*!/9(*YS Sat. May 11 At 10 pm, the planet Saturn is well above the eastern horizon, while the planet Jupiter is nearly setting in the west. Venus has joined Jupiter in the evening twilight, and Mercury is behind the Sun, joining the evening scene in a week. Sun. May 12 .O0"./*$3%.:2#,"%#$*41.*,.%0".L'$%0"$,.!"1*3:0"$".&#3.':","(.',.%0*3.(#%".*,. 1930, as Adler Planetarium in Chicago opened its doors. We have an outstanding planetarium in our backyards at Bays Mt. Park, where the projecting and sound system are one of the best in America. Mon. May 13 Mars has popped up from behind the Sun to begin its climb in the morning sky, good news for NASA scientists who have been without communications to the two rovers on Mars and three satellites orbiting it. Data links have been restored, and all is well with the robot emissaries from Earth exploring the Red Planet.

!/9(*YUI*V'(*7-/;()*3*>/E*WI*YXeR

I’m Not Anti-Social So apparently I’m anti‐social, according to friends. Personally, I don’t think I’m anti‐social. It’s not like every time a stranger comes to my door I freak out. Shutter all the windows, jettison the cat out in an escape pod. Lock myself away in my panic room, curl up in the fetal position, and cry for an hour and a half while listening to the soundtrack to Evita. No, I don’t do that, not at all. Seriously, I’m not anti‐social. Saying that I’m anti‐social would make it sound as if a simple task like going to the grocery store would /*22.1".&*%0.($"#(.#,(.0'$$'$-. I mean, sure, when I do go

grocery shopping I get a little overwhelmed by the people, and the fact that there’s a giant glowing orb in the sky. Perhaps it’s also true that when I reach the frozen foods, I have to face dive into bags of frozen peas just to compensate with all that is going on. By time I’ve reached the check out, I’m breathing into a paper bag and demanding that no one look at me. Sure, I do all that, but who doesn’t!? I’m not anti‐social. I leave the house, I go do things. I enjoy going out on dates. HW8". 0#(. 1#,7. #. /*,". ,*+0%. '4%. with a lovely lass. I might insist

that she sit at another table across the room, and only talk to me via Skype. I might also wear a hazmat suit, and insist she coat herself in Purell, as we all know 041#,. 6"*,+3. #$". /*2%07. +"$1. vessels. But that’s just being cautious. I’m not anti‐social. I throw parties for Pete’s sake! I love having people over. Would an anti‐social person Martha Stewart up the place? I think not! Let me tell you what it’s like when I have people over. First I send the invites out over Facebook, we all known paper can’t be trusted. I make a panic inducing trip to the grocery, and then I come home and start prepping food for my guests. Once that is done, I go and scrub myself in the shower with a brick, and a bar of Lava. My guests all arrive in the same manner, and enter my home through my short hall. Thankfully, my hall doubles as #,. *',*5. :4$*/*5#%*',. 50#16"$?. everyone just thinks those blue tubes in the ceiling are black‐ lights. After that, everyone meets me in the living room, where we drink the Kool Aid. Dinner is next, followed by smashing the plates *,.%0"./*$":2#5"-.H.P43%.(',W%.%$43%. that my dishwasher will actually get things “clean”.

After dinner we all head outside, where I had the ground replaced with hand washable Astroturf. We play games, Twister, dance to a few records, and mostly try not to make actual human contact with one another. We have a great time, and everyone leaves a little less germy than they arrived. I then hose down my entire home with Clorox, and call it a night. See, I’m not anti‐social. I’m not. Seriously.

I have no idea where people get the idea that I am this anti‐social 0"$1*%. &0'. *3. 0'$$*/*"(. 67. %0". very thought of walking around on the Earth. I’m sure after I’ve laid it all out here, you too agree with me that I am not anti‐social. Now if you’ll pardon me, I’m +'*,+.%'.+'.+"%.17./2#302*+0%.#,(. see if I can see where the cat’s escape pod landed. See you next week, follow me on Twitter @ ThatAndyRoss

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 27

“Gathering in the Gap” Announces Annual Music Competitions

The 2013 “Gathering in the Gap” Music Festival, which will be held at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap on May 25th, offers an opportunity for area musicians to test their skills in a variety of musical competitions. Performers can compete in old‐ time and bluegrass divisions and on multiple instruments. Competition categories *,524(". 6#,P'?. /*((2"?. 624"+$#33. guitar, bluegrass mandolin, bluegrass band, and old‐time band. Two age groups will compete in all categories except bluegrass band and old‐time 6#,(K. ;C. #,(. 4,("$. #,(. ;>. #,(. over. Judges will use the following criteria in scoring the contestants: arrangement, rhythm and timing, musicianship, technique, and stage presence. When scoring musicianship, the judges will be looking for tasteful, dynamic, and entertaining performances. Scores for technique will be based on the technical competence of a 5',%"3%#,%W3./*,+"$*,+?.6'&*,+?.'$. picking. ]#30. :$*^"3. #,(. 5"$%*/*5#%"3. will be presented to winners in each category with a top prize 'G.cVUU.G'$./*$3%.:2#5".*,.%0".'2(9 time band and bluegrass band categories. I#50. 5',%"3%#,%. 143%. /*22. out a registration form and pay admission to the festival. There is no additional cost for the competitions. All competitors will play two songs: one fast and

one slow. All competing bands must consist of three or more members. For a complete set of competition rules, a schedule of events, or a downloadable

registration form, please visit the “Gathering in the Gap” Music Festival website at www. gatheringinthegapmusicfestival. com and click on “Competitions.” For more information about any of the festival events, please call the park at 276‐523‐1322 or visit the website mentioned above. The award‐winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to make reservations in one of the more %0#,. ;?>UU. 5#1:3*%"3. '$. EUU. climate‐controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at >UU9<EE9Z@Fg. '$. 8*3*%. www. virginiastateparks.gov.

Page 28, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

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May 7, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 29

Pain and Gain

When I recently ventured to %0". %0"#%"$. %'. 3"". %0". ,"&. /*21. “Pain and Gain”, I was disturbed by something I saw in the theater. No, it wasn’t snacks spilled everywhere or patrons using cell phones. It was the realization that a child under 13 was about

%'.&*%,"33.%0*3.NFR.$#%"(./*21-.eG. course, every parent has the right to take their child to an adult '$*",%"(. /2*5M?. 64%. HW1. ,'%. "8",. sure the person with the child was over 20 years‐old. My observation aside, I continued to munch on my

:':5'$,. &0*2". %0". /*21?. (*$"5%"(. by Michael Bay, proceeded. The action/comedy (though I found little to laugh about) stars Mark Wahlberg as Daniel Lugo, a personal trainer in 1990’s Miami. When Lugo is not pumping iron, or helping others work out, he is attending seminars held by a self‐help guru, who is so inspiring to the trainer he practically leaps around. Thanks to the guru, Lugo is convinced he will never achieve the American Dream unless he does something drastic, so he devises a plan to kidnap one of his rich clients in an effort to steal all his assets. Lugo gets aid in his efforts from his friend Anthony (Adrian Doorbal), and a muscle mass the

two have recruited, named Paul (Dwayne Johnson). After the trio /*,#227. M*(,#:. O',7. A0#20'46. (Victor Kershaw), they hold him in a warehouse and torture him until they get him to sign over all this holdings. Are we having fun yet? As one might expect, the trio of muscle heads soon become '8"$5',/*(",%. #,(. $"5M2"33?. leading to their downfall. Apparently director Bay has decided to try his hand at a /*21?. %0#%. G'$. 0*1?. *3. #. 6*%. 1'$". artistic. However, we are talking about a director better know for 3450./*213.#3.%0".NO$#,3G'$1"$3R. series, so he doesn’t veer too far from the action genre. The plot, based on a true story,

is almost too unbelievable to be true. The violence is at a high level, and is often unnerving. As for the actors, their talents are all &#3%"(. *,. %0*3. /*21?. #,(. #%. %*1"3. they appear to acting as if they were in a bad episode of “Miami Vice”. I also found the characters to be nearly void of any redeeming characteristics, which left a sour taste in my mouth. In other words, I really didn’t care what happened to any of these characters. The only character who seemed to have any glimmer of hope was Dwayne Johnson’s. NZ#*,.#,(.Q#*,R.&#3.#./*21.%0#%. was a “pain” to watch, and left me with nothing to “gain” by doing so. (Rated R) D

Page 30, The Loafer • May 7, 2013

Conversations: From the Inside Out A recent online issue of Salon ran an article from 3.-0#*-4-.& American by University of Manchester anthropologist Andrew Irving, who is involved in some pioneering research on the conversations that take place inside our heads. When I /*$3%. ",5'4,%"$"(. %0*3. #$%*52"?. H. was immediately reminded of “Herman’s Head,” the early 90s TV sitcom that gave us permission to eavesdrop on what was going on inside the head of Herman (played by William Ragsdale of “Fright Night” fame), a frustrated magazine fact‐checker working *,. #. 1'("$,. 'G/*5". &*%0. #,. assortment of odd yet endearing characters. By allowing us to be privy to Herman’s most private thoughts, the show was unlike any other—a fact that probably explains its brief two‐season lifespan.

In any event, Irving’s research focuses on something with which we are all‐too‐familiar (our interior thoughts, or “conversations” with ourselves) and makes us more aware of a very mysterious part of our everyday lives. The opening paragraph of %0". A5*",%*/*5. @1"$*5#,. #$%*52"3. informs us that “On any given day, millions of conversations reverberate through New York City” (or any location you may choose). These conversations permeate the air, creating a kind of vocal orchestra. Sentences and sentence fragments swirl around us like the waves washing up on a beach, inviting us to surf on one or two just to see where they will take us. This was of course the premise of Francis Ford Coppola’s controversial, thought‐ provoking, and disturbing 1974 movie “The Conversation,”

which took us on a chilling trip with sound analyst Harry Caul (brilliantly portrayed by Gene Hackman) as he recorded street conversations for sometimes shady clients. When he overhears two passersby planning a murder, his level of professional detachment was shattered and he found himself becoming more and more obsessed with their plans, taking us with him to the movie’s rather disquieting conclusion. In many ways this movie, which was in many ways a meditation on the currently‐ unfolding Watergate scandal, marks the tipping point between the pre and post‐Facebook eras. Whereas mid‐Seventies audiences who saw this movie G'$.%0"./*$3%.%*1".&"$".:"$:2"J"(. and perhaps fascinated by the surveillance work done by Caul, today’s audiences take surveillance for granted as an integral component of their lives. Irving is not really interested in these audible conversations, however. He is after the ever‐ present, yet silent, conversations that take place inside our heads on a 24/7 basis, even when we are asleep‐‐could it be that dreams are in fact continuations of our waking dialogues with ourselves? As the 3.-0#*-4-.& American piece reminds us “The human brain loves soliloquy. Even when speaking with others—and especially when alone—we continually talk to ourselves in our heads. . . . . Stick your head out that same window above the crowded street and you will hear nothing of what people are saying to themselves privately. All that inner dialogue

remains submerged beneath the ocean of human speech, like a novel written in invisible ink behind the text of another book.” What Irving wants to do is to reveal the content of all those inner dialogues and conversations. As he explains, “I’m interested in whatever people are thinking about. ‘What should I buy for dinner tonight? Should I buy pasta?’ That’s just as interesting to me as something more dramatic.” To this end he has been successful in getting many people to record their inner conversations onto the digital recorders they wear while going about their day‐to‐day activities; and he has created a series of fascinating video essays “starring” some of his research participants. These videos let us eavesdrop as recordings are made in parks, on bridges, and in cafes. Of course, we could argue that once we articulate our innermost thoughts, they are no longer private. And it goes without saying that many of our conversations will be suppressed once the tape (the digital one that is) starts rolling. Very few of us will risk being embarrassed, even incriminated, by openly expressing some of our deepest and darkest interior conversations. Some things therefore will always been hidden from everyone except ourselves. Our minds, at this point at least, are impervious to surveillance, even by Irving’s digital recording devices. As mentioned earlier, I believe movies often offer meditations on our interior lives and thoughts. For example,

Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” and “Memento” are in essence “recordings” of what is going on *,3*(". %0". 1*,(3. 'G. 0*3. /*5%*',#2. characters—in a way that shows how our private thoughts are not always chronological or even rational. “Being John Malkovich” does just that—allowing us to literally crawl inside another :"$3',W3. 0"#(-. T7. G#8'$*%". /*21. +",$"?. /*21. ,'*$?. *3. M,'&,. G'$. *%3. use of voiceovers that convey the usually doomed main character’s thoughts as he or she is about to be undone by the cruel hand of fate—or, as is generally the case, the seductive glance of a femme fatale as she glides along a rain‐soaked street or spills out her guts inside a seedy private "7". 'G/*5". &0*2". 6"*,+. 4:3%#+"(. by shadows of venetian blinds 5$"#%"(. 67. #. /2#30*,+. ,"',. “Hotel” sign. I am anxious to follow Irving’s research more closely. After reading about it, I can enjoy my people‐watching excursions even more. Asking the question, “I wonder what they’re thinking?” certainly makes going to the mall a much more pleasant experience. Of course, I probably don’t want to know what most shoppers have on their minds! See (or hear) you next week. In the meantime, try to think good thoughts. With that thought in mind, think I’ll rewatch one of my favorite “Twilight Zone” episodes—“It’s A Good Life,” starring Billy Mumy as a little boy who has the ability to read our innermost thoughts, with frightening and often deadly results.

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