The Loafer

Page 2, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 3

September 14, 2010 Volume 24, Issue 39

For Notes of Interest, visit www.theloaferonline.com, and download this week’s issue.

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Addie Brownlee finds her Sea Legs - with a little help from Martha Wainwright Addie Brownlee was on a boat on the North Atlantic. “I walked on deck, and had to find my balance, my footing, and I thought, ‘this feels familiar’.”

Addie Brownlee

She started writing Sea Legs, the first single off her new EP, East of Leaving, released in anticipation of the full length album due out fall of 2010.

“I was at the time, and still am, a huge fan of Martha Wainwright, so some time later, when Martha sang with me on Sea Legs, it was a dream come true.” Internationally touring singer/songwriter, Addie Brownlee, having shared the bill with the likes of Melissa Ferrick and others, released her Americana tinged EP June 19th.

Brownlee is returning to Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots Reunion, playing on several stages during the three day festival - and its a homecoming for Addie, who hails from Bristol.

Brownlee’s voice has been compared to singers like Dusty Springfield. “Even Dusty Springfield’s name evoked the sound of her voice. I love the comparison.” If Brownlee’s voice is of the dust, the earth, then her lyrics are a hard rain. Eroding the surface of things, exposing feelings that aren’t easily expressed or classified, but so familiar you’ll wonder why no one has ever written these songs before. Born in Kansas, and raised there and in Tennessee, often Addie’s musical metaphors involve water, the ocean, “…which doesn’t make sense. I was land-locked! Another case of wanting what one doesn’t have, I guess. My mother’s mother longed for the sea. Maybe it’s in my blood.”

Music is definitely in her blood, growing up listening to her parents play guitars and sing Peter Paul and Mary and Simon and Garfunkel. She says that her family is a big influence on her and her songwriting.

“I’m certain my grandmother eventually found her sea legs. I think I’ve found mine too.”

East of Leaving is Addie Brownlee’s second album.

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Jamen Denton & Wise Old River It’s a Friday night and the late dinner crowd and early partygoers file into Stateline Bar & Grille in Bristol, Tennessee.

On stage, Jamen Denton closes his eyes and splays open his heart for the fifty plus people already assembled. The crowd seems more interested with what’s on tap than what’s on Denton’s mind. It’s a big change from what life was like just a few years ago for the former charismatic leader of the megapopular local band Virginia Ground.

Known almost as much for moonshine as their music, Virginia Ground gained instant popularity when they first hit the scene on New Year’s Eve 2004. Denton’s soaring vocals and infectious, original songs about drinkin’ and pretty girls were the core of the band’s raucous brand of acoustic altcountry party rock. As Denton’s brother, Justin, provided the driving backbeat to Joshua Young’s funky bass-slap, Jon McGlocklin’s backing harmonies and Ben Smith’s high-octane mouth harp, it was standing room only at nearly every venue they played.

At one point the cable channel CMT came calling to hear the group of barely over 21 kids talk about moonshine and music for their documentary series “Most Shocking”.

Every Friday and Saturday there was a show, and a good time that never seemed to end. Yet the same party that attracted the masses attracted problems. Rumors of relocations, women, drugs, and disagreements within the group eventually took its toll. The rock-and-roll cocktail had been served to another unknowing client. Band members went their separate ways; Denton eventually went to rehab. The voice that had inspired so many was on shaky ground.

It would take time, but Denton would eventually find his way back to the stage with his new group Wise Old River. Anyone who knew him could see something was different, and it was more than just quieter crowds at venues. Humbled by life’s twists and turns, Denton’s demeanor and physicality had changed. Inwardly, he had gained new insight and new priorities-sobriety, family, and God.

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What’s Your Favorite Festival Moment?

For some, music festivals are a lifestyle.

There’s something special about the festival atmosphere, it’s music and the camaraderie among fans. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Music Committee CoChair David Stallard catches up with artists and friends for their take on great festival moments that affected their lives here at home and beyond.

Emilee Warner, Director of Publicity & Promotions for Compass Records Voodoo Festival in New Orleans on Halloween 2009 was a force to be reckoned with. The rain slowly moved in on the festival late afternoon, and luckily the Preservation Hall Jazz Band was kicking off under a well-suited tent. A parade of characters, marching bands, costumes, stilts, feathers, and glitter caught shelter from the rain, and a dance party ignited. It’s the best people-watching experience I’ve ever encountered.

Travis Book, The Infamous Stringdusters I have a lot of great festival memories and to classify one as favorite would tax my brain beyond its limits. I was at Rhythm and Brews in Telluride September 13/14/15 of 2001. There was something in the air, some solidarity, and when Gov’t Mule kicked into Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World, I felt as American as you can

Precious Rhythm & Roots Memories feel. It was awesome, everyone went crazy, and then we went and drank a thousand beers.

Glorious. I love music.

Trent Wagler, The Steel Wheels We were playing a festival in West Virginia to benefit an organization cleaning up the Cheat River. As we’re onstage it begins pouring down rain. It’s a hearty crowd and they’re not going anywhere. A huge crew starts dancing in the increasing mud hole in front of the stage.

During one of the songs, the rain stops. Shortly thereafter a huge burst of cheers come from the crowd, but not during a particularly notable time in the song.

We learn later that above our heads and the stage was a complete rainbow and people were mesmerized. We could have been playing bad cover songs and people would have been cheering for us in that setting!

Leah Ross, BRRR Executive

Director Of course, my favorite festival is Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and I have so many good memories of what happens each year on State Street. However, I love going to Merlefest and listening to Doc Watson perform on the main stage with all the special guests that sit in with him. It is the one performance that I never miss.

Justin Venable, Folk Soul Revival I saw Bruce Springsteen perform at Bonnaroo in 2009. The man was 61 years old and he was running 100 mph non-stop for 3 hours, and he does that day in and day out. His energy was amazing. Also at the 2009 ‘Roo, I was roaming around and heard three songs by The Steeldrivers, whom I had never heard of before. I was absolutely blown away by Chris Stapleton’s voice after the first song I and became an instant fan.

Brent Treash, BRRR volunteer One of my favorite moments from Rhythm and Roots is from the 2008 Reunion. The pirates of New Riders of the Purple Sage invaded State Street. This trippy cowboy band was led by the blackbeards of David Nelson and Buddy Cage. For a brief moment in time, the Birthplace of Country Music went psychedelic! When the band kicked into “Panama Red,” it was traveling back in time forty years. Jerry Garcia never made it to Bristol, but his influence could be found on the Piedmont Stage that night.

Ashleejean Trott, BRRR fan Last year marked my first year coming to Bristol, and it turned into a little “musical family reunion” for me. I was able to see all the bands that I have made friends with over the years all on the same street. I would run from one end of State

For a complete schedule for the Rhythm & Roots Reunion, see page 30. The schedule is broken down by venue.

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 7 Street to see Sam Quinn and, 10 minutes later, run to the other end to catch Holy Ghost Tent Revival. There was never a bad time slot, always a good band to see, and I could see two different bands in two different states within a 10 minute time period. Awesome.

Charlene Baker, BRRR Marketing Director My favorite memories of The Reunion are too far and wide to sum up briefly, but I will say that Sunday afternoons have always been particularly special to me. It’s a tradition I call Bloody Mary Sundays. I meet up with friends and we end up running down all the weekend’s highlights. Sundays are a little more laid back, and I’m usually nursing laryngitis!

I’ve been known to shed a tear or two while the workers are tearing down stages! The entire event makes me proud to be part of this wonderful organization, and proud to be a Bristolian! I’m so glad my daughter will have such a wonderful tradition to grow up with!

Jason Collier, Misty Strings I went to Horning’s Hideout, way out in Oregon, in 2004 for

String Cheese Incident’s three day festival. It was a weekend of epic jams in an old growth forest with Ewok-like ferns. On Sunday, SCI brought all the dads to the center of the venue for a huge Father’s Day shout –out.

As a newly anointed dad, it was amazing. Peacocks squawked their approval.

Katie Sword, BRRR volunteer

All time favorite memory -introducing The Avett Brothers to my hometown! Leah had a special shirt made for me to wear, and I got escorted on stage

by Bob Crawford. Amazing memory!

Woody Pines, BRRR Performer I have had some great experiences at the Reunion. Getting to meet Doc Watson a few years

ago back stage was a highlight.

Rolling our piano down the TN/VA state line and playing it with my left hand in Virginia and my right in Tennessee was also a thrill, and I have enjoyed midnight hat shopping at the classy men store on State Street.

Jedd Ferris, Blue Ridge Outdoors Senior Editor Watching the Avett Brothers wake up the late morning crowd at the 2007 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Most of the groggy audience was visibly unfamiliar with the North Carolina band, but by the end of their set the box canyon had turned into a fullblown hoedown. It set the stage for the rest of the day at the most scenic festival site in the country.

Dave Stallard, BRRR volunteer How do you get over 5,000 people to remain absolutely silent? Put Doc Watson on the stage. When Doc took to the Country Mural Stage a couple years ago, the crowd – jammed in shoulder to shoulder and larger than any group of people I have ever seen in front of the Mural – fell stone silent. The moment was reverential as this American icon gingerly took his seat and reached for his guitar.

What a stunning moment.

MOTHERHOOD &FEMINISM ETSU Communication Department to celebrate, recognize Kinser’s new book, research series Communication professionals are seldom the shy flowers of the business or academic worlds, but ETSU’s Department of Communication has been uncharacteristically reticent.

No more, says department Research Coordinator and Health Communication professor Dr. Kelly Dorgan.

“Our professors are well-known in the region for their expertise and even for their research,” says Dorgan, “but we are known as individuals. I find our scholarly work as a department is not well-known, and I think it’s because we lack a formal, public forum for sharing our work.”

At the same time Dorgan was pondering this communication gap, of sorts, Communica- h tion Chair Dr. Amber Kinser’s newest book, Motherhood and Feminism was coming off the T d presses at Seal Press in California. “The timing is perfect,” Dorgan. “We will celebrate Dr. t Kinser’s new work, her first solo-authored book, in our department’s inaugural research event.” t The result of this perfect confluence is an invitation-only Book Reading and Signing Thursday (Sept. 16) at ETSU’s B. Carroll Reece Museum, where former students and Kinser t g will read excerpts from the new publication and two of her pieces from Mothering in the t Third Wave (2008), an anthology she compiled and edited.

The readings should provoke considerable reflection and discussion, Dorgan says, because Kinser’s perspectives on the melding of mothering and feminism are unique. Mother- t a hood and Feminism encompasses powerful mothering from the 1800s to “mommy bloggers” in the “Mamasphere” and what Kinser calls “maternalist activism.”

“There is such a courage to her scholarship,” says Dorgan. “She is not afraid to address is- l sues that are controversial or scary. Her scholarship forces the reader to live in the question. h a She does not provide simplistic answers.

“She addresses the ‘messiness’ of life. It is hard to make decisions, and sometimes we’re good mothers and sometimes we’re good feminists and occasionally we are both and some- e e times we are neither. That’s what will make for some good discussion.”

The book is already catalyzing some constructive conversations this fall, says Kinser, who is using her newest book as the text for her Constructing Motherhood, a cross-disciplinary a course in Women’s Studies F and speech. “I was afraid a the students would expect b me to have the whole book s memorized and it’s been s y a year since I wrote it,” she says with a laugh. “It a hasn’t happened yet but s it’s only the second week y u [of classes]. It is really fun teaching a class about which I know so much … w If I teach feminist theory I b know my stuff, too, but I e have to dig deeper in my s memory for information. r But the motherhood stuff m p is right there and I can B dance around in it.”

The original purpose of ‘ the book was not to be a p textbook for her own class, t i but as part of an educational series by Seal Press t t on different and timely topics, such as masculinity, o pop culture and transgen- g der issues. An offshoot of

Amber & her kids. her other writing in journals and anthologies such as Feminist Mothering, Mother Knows Best: Talking Back to the Baby Experts, Encyclopedia of Mothering Being and Thinking as an Academic Mother, Kinser took on the task of bringing “feminist mothering” from the 19th century to the present and future.

“I had to do an enormous amount of reading because most of my training was in modern theory,” says Kinser, who became chair in January after serving 10 years as ETSU’s first director of Women’s Studies, as well as professor in speech and Women’s Studies. “It was such a good experience for me to plot out a diagram of what happened in the 1870s, the 1890s, 1900 to the present …

“I had a couple goals. I wanted to make feminist theory accessible to more people. Sometimes you hear the phrase ‘just theory,’ insinuating that it’s not real and not usable and that’s actually not true but it can feel that way if it’s not accessible.

“Another goal was to project an accurate picture of feminism relative to motherhood. If you listen to public dialogue, those two are incompatible … So I wanted to illustrate that feminism has a long history of trying to figure out a way for motherhood to be freeing and empowering and a source of joy for women.”

The reality of Kinser’s years of researching other women’s perspectives and her own experiences in feminist mothering, however, is that while sometimes empowering and joyful, mothering in the third, more recent, wave of feminism can indeed be conflicting, or messy.

“It can be done, but probably not without guilt and self-doubt,” says Kinser, who holds a doctorate from Purdue University and bachelor’s and master’s from University of South Florida. “The cultural messages about what a mother should be and what a feminist’s life should look like are so pervasive, powerful and ideological, you can’t escape coming up against that with every professional and parenting decision you make. You just have to get used to it.

“Many mothers rightfully want to pursue their own goals but they also want to have everyone OK with that, so we spend a lot of time getting everyone OK with our choices, and modifying the choices when people aren’t OK with them.

But the cultural ‘shoulds’ and ‘shouldn’ts’ for moms are too powerful. People are not going to be OK with mothers prioritizing themselves, so we have to get used to that and accept their discomfort and accept our self-doubt and pursue our goals anyway.”

“Our child-rearing methods

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have evolved in ways that are absurdly out of sync with contemporary life and they have no roots in human history. The 24/7 micromanagement of children’s lives and the impossible standards imposed on mothers is very new thinking and very problematic for women, children and families.”

One of Kinser’s protégés, K.C. Gott, will read Kinser’s letters to her children from Mothering in the Third Wave. “I find Amber’s writing provocative but also heartfelt and intelligent,” says Gott, a mother herself and teacher and assistant director of Women’s Studies.

“I am honored to be reading her work and I find the letters to her children are reflective of the very things I might have thought or said myself. She demonstrates the difficulty in negotiating both parenting and feminism and how, always, your children come first.

“I found that working with and for Amber made the possibility of being serious about

my career as a mother myself possible. I didn’t have to give up one to be the other. She serves as an example of how to do both and I realized I was not the only mother who struggled with mothering from a feminist perspective.”

A 2010 graduate in speech and public relations, Elizabeth Cosentino-Vonderahe will lend her voice to an excerpt on the “maternal erotic.”

Raw, truthful and provocative is how Dorgan describes these pieces. “That’s what Amber’s work does,” Dorgan says. “It doesn’t shy away. It doesn’t shy away from the messiness. It doesn’t shy away from the mud puddle. It walks in it and thrashes around. How many people are willing to roll in it and examine it? There is a bravery to her work … She is very much a part of her writing. The consequences for her scholarship are different from the consequences of traditional scholarship.

Why are this event and book important? It’s important

from a scholarly perspective but it’s also daring.”

Although not a mother, Cosentino-Vonderahe finds much to gain from Kinser’s evocative writing. “The point behind this event is to honor how Dr. Kinser dwells in the question, not offering answers but instead pushing us to experiment with how to interpret challenging and uncomfortable questions about the human condition and how being a feminist and a mother guide these interpretations,” she says. “I think if people can get over themselves and be honest they will find they are quite comforted by her writings.

Discover more about the author at www.amberkinser. com. Motherhood and Feminism is available at the ETSU Bookstore and by order from Barnes & Noble and Booksa-Million in Johnson City.

The book can also be found on amazon.com, buy.com, bookfinder.com, borders. com, booksamillion.com and barnesandnoble.com.

LMU Law Dean Sydney Beckman to speak at Northeast State Northeast State Community College welcomes Sydney Beckman to campus on Sept. 15 to deliver the keynote address “The Magic of the Constitution” for the College’s commemoration of Constitution Week.

Beckman is the founding dean of the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law. He recognized as an author, professor, and distinguished jurist.

Beckman received his law degree from Baylor University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University. He has lectured throughout the United States and in Canada on using technology effectively in the classroom and has spoken at various law related functions and CLE activities.

He practiced law for more than 15 years and was an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law for five years and a faculty member at the Charleston School of Law for three years before coming to Duncan School of Law. Beckman has authored dozens of articles and numerous books in the area of family law and recently co-authored a textbook on Evidence.

Prior to full-time teaching, Beckman held officer positions in the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court.

He also served on the Legislative Committee to the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and holds an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration sponsors Constitution Week annually to recognize the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

Beckman’s presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts on the main campus, 2425 Highway 75,

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 11

Opening Celebration for Smithsonian Exhibit at Mars Hill Mars Hill College invites the public to share in the Grand Opening of a long-awaited Smithsonian Institution exhibition, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” on Saturday, September 25.

The Grand Opening Celebration, called “Our Harmonies: A Community Celebration of American Roots Music,” s is planned to begin at 3 pm, and will feature a variety of regional musicians offering glimpses of the great American tapestry of sound.

Linda Carlisle, Secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources, will headline a number of officials set to welcome “New Harmonies” to the college. Mars Hill Mayor John Chandler and State Representative Ray Rapp will speak at the event, and Senator Joe Sam Queen will emcee. Musicians featured will include the Mars Hill College Percussion Ensemble, Bo Taylor of the Cherokee Nation, the Madison High School string band Appalachian Harmony, Mars Hill College student gospel singer Zakia Allah, the North Buncombe High School jazz band, the Mars Hill College ShowStoppers performance ensemble and Bayou Diesel, an Asheville-

based Zydeco band. The celebration, and the exhibition, is free to the public.

“New Harmonies” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

Mars Hill College is one of only six locations in North Carolina and the only institution of higher learning in the state chosen to host the traveling exhibition.

The exhibition will be in Weizenblatt Gallery, Moore Auditorium, from September 25 through November 6.

“New Harmonies” tells the American musical story through photographs, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles.

The exhibition explores the work of wellknown folk, gospel, country and blues artists who have inspired generations of musicians, like Ma Rainey, B.B. King, Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, Mahalia

Jackson, Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez, and captures the spirit of musical styles that are at the heart of local heritage in the United States—Tejano, zydeco, polka, Cajun, conjunto and klezmer. “New Harmonies” focuses on how roots music gives Americans a soundtrack and a voice for their stories.

An exhibition honoring Madison County music traditions will complement “New Harmonies” and feature the rich music collections in Mars Hill College’s Southern Appalachian Archives, including the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Collection. In addition, the centerpiece of the “New Harmonies” activities will be the 2010 Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival, held each year on the campus, within feet of Lunsford’s birthplace on the campus.

“We are so pleased and honored to be selected to host ‘New Harmonies,’” said Dr. Karen Paar, Director and Archivist, Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies and Southern Appalachian Archives. “I believe we were chosen because of our

longstanding commitment to the fine music traditions of the region demonstrated by hosting the Lunsford Festival and by building a strong music collection in the Southern Appalachian Archives that includes the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Collection.”

The Lunsford Festival, set for October 2, is the largest in an exciting lineup of events coordinated through the Ramsey Center and designed to draw connections with the “New Harmonies” exhibition.

On October 10, Mars Hill College will host photographer Rob Amberg at 1 pm in a gallery talk about his photography collection, “SodomSong.” The collection features previous unprinted photographs taken in the 1970s taken in the Sodom Laurel community of Madison County.

Later events will include “Kids’ Day” on October 23, a presentation called “Jane Hicks Gentry” by Road Scholar and traditional musician Betty Smith on October 28, and a Grand Masters Fiddler Tribute on November 5 which will

include performances by accomplished musicians Paul Crouch, Arvil Freeman, Bobby Hicks, and Roger Howell, accompanied by Jerry Sutton and hosted by Laura Boosinger.

“This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for western North Carolina,” Paar said. “We look forward to sharing this wonderful exhibition and related events that celebrate our region’s rich musical tradition with this community,” she said.

The exhibition at Mars Hill College will be coordinated through the Ramsey Center in partnership with the Dry Ridge Historical Museum, Madison County Arts Council, Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, Wolf Laurel Historical Society and the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace State Historic Site. For more information and additional community music events, go to www.mhc.edu/newharmonies, or contact Program Coordinator Amy Carraux Price at (828) 689-1571 or acarraux@ mhc.edu.

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Cut Loose, FOOTLOOSE!!!

Are you holding out for a hero? Do you need to cut loose? Cut loose, Footloose!! Appalachian Regional Theatrical Society will have you dancing in the aisles as this production of the Tony nominated musical Footloose grooves its way into the Paramount Center for the Arts on Thursday, September 30, Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, October 3 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

When Ren McCormack moves to a small town where the local government has banned dancing and rock music, he leads his classmates around the law and Reverend Shaw Moore to have a real senior prom.

Including all the Grammy and Golden Globe nominated music you know and love from the motion picture soundtrack as well as new music written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford this show will leave you with a song in your heart and a spring in your step. It is impossible to walk away from this show not singing Let’s Hear It for the Boy or Footloose.

The amazing cast of Footloose contains both veteran actors and actors new to the stage. Bringing the people of Bomont alive through song and dance are Bleu Copas as Ren, Laura Renfro as Ariel Shaw, Mike Musick as Rev. Shaw, Joseph Minga as Willard, Carrie Maggard as Vi Shaw and Abby Mae Tucker as Rusty. We are also partnered with and thankful for the dancers provided by Xtreme Dance Company in Bristol, VA. The show is directed by Nicholas Spencer with musical direction by Scott Elliott. Choreography is under the direction of Paulina Ley and Melinda Ley. Appalachian Regional Theatrical Society is a brand new regional community theatre with a desire to provide quality, affordable and professional theatre productions to the people in the greater East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina area.

ARTS seeks to cultivate an appreciation for and understanding of the arts, and provide a learning opportunity for those interested in a genuine professional theatre experience.

Tickets for Appalachian Regional Theatrical Society’s presentation of Footloose are available through the Paramount Center for the Arts, (423) 274-8925, as well as on their website, www.theparamountcenter. com. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $10 for children 12 and under.

For addition information about the show, visit www.supportyourarts. com

Brenda Wong Aoki will be the next teller in residence for the International Storytelling Center’s beloved Storytelling Live! concert series.

The program is known for featuring performers that represent a wide variety of global storytelling traditions. Aoki, who’s inspired by her Japanese and Chinese roots, will share family stories, ghost stories, kabukiinspired theater, and traditional tales from around the Pacific Rim during her time in Jonesborough.

The storyteller will give daily matinee performances during her residency, which runs from September 21 – 25. All concerts will be held at 2:00 sharp in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall, an intimate theater in the heart of the International Storytelling Center. Tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis, so reservations are highly recommended. All performances are most suitable for adults.

Aoki’s fascination with traditional fairy tales started early in life. “We grew up in a small house, but we lived right next door to a library,” she recalls. “There were six of us in one bedroom and mom and dad in the other bedroom, so for me the only place I could be alone was either in the bathroom or in a book.

“Sometimes the bathroom was occupied,” she says, laughing, “but I really liked to read. I read every single fairy tale I could get my hands on.”

Later, as a college student in northern California, Aoki’s interests branched out into other traditional forms, including theater and dance.

She worked for a while as a performance artist after graduation. Quickly, she learned that the lifestyle of a starving artist wasn’t as romantic as it’s cracked up to be. “At some point, I realized it was really hard making a living with a whole company,” she says. “You had to divvy up the night’s performance with, like, eight other people.”

Around the same time, Aoki was commissioned to tell a series of Japanese ghost stories, a unique form that she describes as both traditional and edgy. (“Most Japanese ghost stories are about female ghosts who have no feet because they’ve lost their connection to the earth,” she explains.) She loved the work so much that she decided to market herself as a storyteller.

“I remember it clearly because I was so scared quitting all my jobs,” she says, “but it worked out.”

“Worked out” is Aoki’s modest nod to some 25 years in the industry.

In that time, she’s performed at prestigious venues around the world, including the Kennedy Center, a Broadway theater, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Center, and beneath the tents of Jonesborough’s own National Storytelling Festival. Tickets for Aoki’s performances are just $10 for adults and $9 for seniors, students, and children under 18. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.

National Story Night 2010 - Come to the National Storytelling Festival one day early! On Thursday, September 30th at 7:30 pm, enjoy Doug El-

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 13

STORYTELLING

Jonesborough Welcomes Storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki liott, Motoko, Connie Regan-Blake, Dovie Thomason with Mountain Man Bob Phillips, Todd Elliott, and emcee, Jim May at the Library Tent next to the Jonesborough Library in Jonesborough, Tennessee. National Story Night is produced independently from the National Storytelling Festival as a fundraiser for the National Storytelling Network member grants program.

See www.storynet.org/events/storynight.html for all the exciting details!

Page 14, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Highgate Cemetery was opened in 1839 as one of the “Magnificent Seven.” These graveyards, located just outside of the city of London, England, were replete with Gothic tombs and buildings. This ornate necropolis was where those of the upper social strata of the time were buried. Their families would not have been caught saying their final goodbyes at any other location. It is in this cemetery, through lovely paths marked by names such as “The Egyptian Avenue” and “Circle of Lebanon,” that an entity was reported to have walked from the mid 1960’s through the early 1970’s.

This was not the first time that a vampire had been reported to reside among the inhabitants of the massive mausoleums lining the avenues of this historical resting place. So atmospheric are the twenty acres that encompass the Victorian spawned burial ground, that Bram Stoker devoted a scene to it in his iconic book Dracula. In the book, the fictional character Lucy Westenra is buried at Highgate Cemetery. Of course, she rises again as a blood drinker only to be dispatched rather quickly

by Dr. Abraham Van Helsing’s

Highgate Cemetery: A Modern Vampire Story team of vampire hunters.

Fictional characters aside, there were a many recorded sightings of the entity, which the media dubbed “The Highgate Vampire,” over a number of years. In the mid 1960’s, two 16 year old school girls were walking on Swain’s Lane passing the north gate of the cemetery when they saw what looked like people emerging from crypts.

One of the girls was reported to be Elizabeth Wojdyla. She began to suffer from nightmares, as well as anemia. It was even reported that she had received puncture wounds on the neck, a traditional tell-tale sign of a vampire attack. She was treated by employing garlic, crosses, and

other traditional methods to keep the reported evil at bay. Reports indicated that she made marked improvements after the folkloric steeped treatment.

Other reports of the “Highgate Vampire” included one of a man who was out walking his dog when he saw an entity around seven feet in height with glowing red eyes. The being appeared to have a cowl covering its face and the black garments that covered its body appeared to be swirling about, even though there wasn’t the faintest hint of wind blowing.

Another report was made by a couple, who while out walking, also on Swain’s Lane, saw a spectre so hideous in countenance that it froze them in place

for several minutes. It was a ghastly sight and the couple was distraught by what they had witnessed.

Reports like these and more brought the “Highgate Vampire” to the attention of the media and by default to the world.

David Farrant and Sean Manchester were the two men at the forefront of investigations into the Highgate entity when it was at the center of worldwide media frenzy. These two often controversial figures were interested in independently tracking down and eliminating the malevolent being that stalked the hallowed grounds of the cemetery. Both have subsequently written books about their experiences with

the being and are experts on the subject of the Highgate entity.

Neither agrees with the other’s methodology or analysis of the incidents that took place at Highgate.

I conducted an interview for this column with David Farrant, from his flat in London. Farrant is in the unique position of having experienced an encounter with the “Highgate Vampire,” as well as having served as one of the primary investigators for an event that is now recorded in the annals of paranormal history.

During the interview I delved into his personal experience with the entity. As Farrant gained an international reputation as a paranormal researcher through his experience on the “Highgate Vampire” case, I also asked him several questions that might benefit those interested in this type of research.

The Loafer: David, how would you describe the “Highgate Vampire” affair in three or four sentences?

David Farrant: There was definitely a “ghost” or some unexplained phenomenon seen at Highgate Cemetery in the

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 15 late 1960’s through to the early 1970’s. I saw this entity myself one night in late December, 1969, as I was passing the top gate of Highgate Cemetery. I wrote about this to the local paper, and several other people wrote in with their own experiences, but then rumour went around that it was a really a blood-sucking vampire, and serious vandalism and desecration increased in the cemetery, apparently from would-be Van Helsings.

The Loafer: When you saw the immense being, having described it as “six or seven feet tall, with hypnotic red eyes,” what reaction did you have?

David Farrant: My first reaction was that it was somebody “messing about,” who had heard local vampire stories and was trying to frighten the odd person as they passed the top gate. It appeared to have red eyes, and I couldn’t see any light reflections that could otherwise have been the cause of this. The spectre, or whatever it was, appeared to be draining me of energy; rather like being in a vivid dream with no control over it.

The Loafer: David, unlike

others who experienced an encounter with the entity, you are very adamant in your belief that the Highgate being was not a vampire in the traditional sense.

How is it that you developed this belief? What makes you so sure?

David Farrant: What makes me so sure? I just cannot accept the way early horror films have depicted vampires as “undead human beings,” supposedly living between reality and some twilight zone, that roam the earth after they are supposedly dead, ravish young ladies with sexual cinematographic Hollywood precision, and which crumble to dust after being staked through the heart. Some movie enthusiasts might well accept this, or even emulate such a notion in their vampire stories (Anne Rice, for example, to name but one).

But I have to say personally, I think that this is just nonsense!

However, that does not mean that I do not accept the existence of some supernatural entities, call them “ghosts” if you will, but that is an entirely different thing.

The Loafer: David, you have described yourself as a psychic investigator. Does your meth-

odology follow that of modern investigators such as The Ghost Hunters (lots of equipment), or researchers such as Dr. Hans Holzer, who believed that all one needed was a good trance medium, camera, and audio recorder to conduct a productive investigation? Or, do you use other methodology in your investigations and if so, what?

David Farrant: I have never been in favor of some of the “new fangled” gadgets some ghost hunting groups employ.

Basically all we ever use, on occasion, are night vision cameras, sensitive tape recording equipment so that any unexplained noise can be analyzed later, thermometers and barometers to measure air temperature and pressure drops or rises, and little else. For the rest, we tend to just rely on our very human five senses of observation!

The Loafer: There are massive numbers of amateur paranormal researchers/investigators in the field now. Do you have any advice for them?

David Farrant: It is true that ghost hunting has now become an almost “in fashion” vogue,

both in America and the U.K. (indeed, it has attracted much interest in other parts of the world).

Often you can visit allegedly haunted sites, and spend nightly vigils at them, and nothing happens. But this does not disprove the existence of ghostly entities, only that these things might only occur in given cycles and under certain conditions. In any event, the first step should surely be to investigate those things that appear as “non-material.” It is only then that any clues about spiritual existence beyond the material world can be forthcoming.

For the people who encountered the dark entity known as the “Highgate Vampire” in the years it was active, the experience was clue enough. It certainly made believers of them in the existence of things beyond their realm of understanding.

Do you own or work at a haunted business? Contact Pat at Constantine@theghost-writers. com and your business could be the focus of an upcoming column.

Page 16, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Autumn Next Week But You Felt That Already!

This is the last week of summer - but you have already felt that in the air and seen the signs in a few colored leaves on the trees and brown ones on the ground.

After a hot time in the Summer of 2010, those cool evening temperatures last week in the 50s were a welcome sight.

And many people were looking up last week, seeing the crisp images of stars in the spectacular moonless nights.

The Moon will dominate the evening skies for the next two weeks, going from a crescent, to First Quarter to Full phase as we say goodbye to summer.

Next week’s Sept. 22 autumnal equinox not only give us a balance of 12 hours and days and 12 hour nights, but daylight is losing its grip as the night takes over.

Sunrise this week is around 7:15 am, and sunset 7:30 pm, but as the Sun keeps moving farther south day by day, the nights get longer and it gets darker earlier. That puts a smile on stargazers, but drives the tennis player, golfer and gardener inside earlier.

The Sun begins to catch those glass prisms in our southward facing windows, the “sun catchers” tossing beautiful rainbows about our inside rooms. That’s another sure sign of autumn.

I want to help you understand that the four seasons are the result of Earth’s tilted axis, and not anything to do with the distance from the Sun. Our approximately 8,000-mile-wide globe doesn’t spin straight up and down. We are knocked over from vertical by 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the Sun, there is a period when our Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun (summer), and away from the Sun (winter).

The time between those seasons are marked by the two equinoxes, spring and autumn.

The first day of summer, around June 21st, is when the Sun makes its highest arc across the sky, the summer solstice.

The winter solstice, around Dec. 21st, is when the Sun makes its lowest arc across the sky.

And the two equinoxes of the year, around March 21 and Sept. 21, have the arc of the Sun go somewhere in between, directly over the Earth’s equator.

Now, transpose those arcs of our Sun across the sky onto the surface of the Earth and we get the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the equator, for the summer solstice; and the Tropic of Capricorn, 23.5 degrees south of the equator, for the winter solstice, And, of course, the imaginary line that the Sun makes on the Earth is at the equator for the two spring and autumn equinoxes.

So... that’s where those tropic lines on the school house globe of Earth come from! And that’s why our globe is always tilted at 23.5 degrees—it’s not just for visual effect!

It was thousands of years ago when ancient stargazers noticed how the Sun’s arc across the sky moved during the season from north to south in its daily motion of rising in the east and setting in the west.

In those ancient days thousands of years ago, the day of the solstices saw the Sun in Cancer in the summer and Capricorn in the winter, thus the imaginary latitude 23.5 degrees from the equator were called the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

Because the axis of Earth wobbles like a toy top at the end of a spin, the north star changes over thousands of years. This changes the background of

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 17

Skies This Week

Celestial events in the skies for the week of Sept. 14-20, 2010, as compiled for The Loafer

by Mark D. Marquette.

I’d bet more people look up at the Moon in the months of September and October than any other time of the year. Take for instance this week. As cool evenings draw us outside, we hear the cacophony of insects, and look up at the waxing crescent Moon that is heading toward full phase next week, the day after the autumnal equinox, Sept. 22nd. Though this is the last week of summer, there is plenty of summer left in the starry nights as the Milky Way is directly overhead at dark—straddled by the Summer Triangle of three bright stars.

And for a few hours after dark, Scorpius and Sagittarius are directly south in the heart of our Galaxy.

Tues. Sept. 14 Saturn is lost in the evening twilight glare, but brilliant Venus hugs the horizon. Above Venus and to the right is much fainter and reddish Mars. Venus is the brightest it can be, actually casting a shadow under the right conditions. But look quickly as the 2nd planet sets by 9 pm.

Wed. Sept. 15 The Moon is at First Quarter phase, directly south at sunset. Beautifully white against the pastel blues of evening twilight, it’s quite a sight!

Thurs. Sept. 16 Jupiter reigns over the eastern skies by 10 pm, and even with binoculars you can tell the planet’s disk and may see a moon or two as a pinpoint of light. Turn a telescope to Jupiter, and you will see its cloud bands and up to four of its largest moons.

Fri. Sept. 17 Happy 70th birthday to Apollo 14 moonwalker Edgar Mitchell. Both his crewmates are deceased: Stuart Roosa, Command Module pilot; and America’s first spaceman and moonwalker, Commander Alan Shepard. After his February 1971 Moon mission, Mitchell retired and formed the Institute of Noetic Sciences, investigating the consciousness and paranormal phenomenon. Indeed, the astronaut tried to conduct a mind-reading exercise while on the Moon with a friend on Earth—not approved by NASA and a factor in his early exit.

Sat. Sept. 18 On this 2006 date in space history, Anoushen Ansari became the first woman space tourist, paying the Russians $20 million for a 10-day trip to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spaceship.

Sun. Sept. 19 Planet Mercury is at its greatest “western elongation,” 18 degrees from the Sun in the morning sky. Translation: the 1st planet is at its best visible height above the pre-sunrise horizon and worth a look in the morning twilight.

Mon. Sept. 20 Neptune is 5 degrees below the Moon tonight, too faint to see without the aide of a telescope. You can “google” a map of the 7th planet’s location, and with even the cheapest telescopes, you can find the star-like point that is Neptune.

stars where the Sun is located during celestial events when comparing the sky now and antiquity.

The 21st Century autumn equinox finds the Sun in Virgo, and the spring equinox has the Sun in Pisces. If we were renaming the lines that define the topics, the north point would be the Tropic of Gemini, and the south line would be the Tropic of Sagittarius.

Now, the temperature of the seasons have everything to do with the tilt of Earth’s axis. And has nothing to do with how close or far away from the Sun the Earth is.

In fact, Earth is farthest from the Sun, 95 million miles, in mid-June, and closest, 91 million miles, in mid-January.

When tilted toward the Sun in the summer, the solar rays are more direct and therefore much hotter than the slanted sun rays of winter—when our Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. That’s why the Southern Hemisphere seasons are just the opposite of our lands above the equator. At the equinoxes, the north and south hemispheres are going through the opposite transition of warm and cold seasons.

Equinoxes... solstices... they are words that we use freely when the season merits. But we give little thought to what is actually happening.

Such a simple visual tool as that classroom globe of Earth has a lot of meaning behind those invisible lines that are appropriately tilted for the season.

This last week of Summer 2010, the Sun sets around 7:30 pm, and the cacophony of insect sounds becoming a musical score for the beautiful transition of sky colors that the twilight has to offer. It’s dark by 8:30 pm, and the stars come out to play.

Venus is incredibly brilliant as you look into the western evening twilight.

Indeed, it is closest to Earth at around 50 million miles away, and reaches its peak brightness on Sept. 23rd, which is also Full Moon night. Venus is minus 4.24 magnitude Mars is positive 1.74 magnitude. That makes Venus 250 times brighter than the 4th planet, 200 million miles away. (A celestial object’s magnitude is an arbitrary scale where one whole number is 2.5 times brighter - or fainter - than the next number.)

Venus is so bright, it can cast a shadow! But you’ve got to look quick as Venus sets before 9 pm. As it disappears below the western horizon, another brilliant planet, Jupiter, is rising in the east.

Jupiter is brilliant at a magnitude of -2.5, and is an eye-catcher climbing high above the eastern horizon.

Any kind of telescope will reveal the globe of Jupiter and a hint of a dark cloud band near the equator and it’s dark polar regions. And its four moons dart about, sometimes one or more hiding behind or in front of the giant planet.

Where Venus dominated our Spring and Summer early evenings, Jupiter will dominate our autumn and winter night skies, so get used to this giant world beaming down. And enjoy the changing seasons.

Page 18, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

ETSU’s Martin School of the Arts needs volunteers to assist with events A season packed with over 20 events in a variety of artistic styles and genres – including films, music and dance concerts, theatrical productions, exhibitions, lectures and workshops – is planned for 2010-11 by the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts at East Tennessee State University, and the school is seeking volunteers to help with these events.

“Part of the Mary B. Martin School’s focus this season is the building of a solid volunteer group to help with the production of events, and also to involve the student community at ETSU and the wider community in Johnson City and the region,” said Anita DeAngelis, director of the school and associate dean for the arts in ETSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Volunteer assistance will be vital to the success of the season’s programs.”

Volunteers will help by serving as ushers, taking tickets, working in the box office, and helping with administrative and marketing tasks. Training sessions will be conducted as needed.

Varying degrees of involvement and time commitment will be welcome and can be used.

The Mary B. Martin School of the Arts was formed in January 2009 with a donation from James C. Martin in memory of his late wife, who was a graduate of ETSU and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts.

Now in its second year, the school encourages the development of the arts by facilitating collaboration between university departments and bringing noted artists to the campus and the region. Part of the school’s mission is to make the thriving arts community at ETSU more visible to the public, and to develop the groundwork needed for further growth in the arts on campus and in the surrounding area.

Individuals 16 years of age and older who are interested in volunteering with the Martin School of the Arts may call (423) 439-8587 or e-mail ehleah@etsu. edu for more information.

October is an exciting month for Symphony of the Mountains (under the direction of Cornelia Laemmli) with two concerts in three different locations!

On Saturday, October 2, at 8:00 pm in the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center in Kingsport, the Symphony of the Mountains will treat concertgoers to a delightful program - “A Hero’s Tale” - devoted to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Each piece on the program tells the tale of a different hero through music. Dr. David Brunnell, music professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, is the featured soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major.

This concerto is a conversation between the piano and the orchestra, as the “theme” of the hero resounds in different instruments until its heroic conclusion. David Brunnell can truly make the piano sing!

One of Beethoven’s beloved symphonic works is his Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, better known as the “Eroica.” Beethoven originally dedicated this work to Napoleon.

However, when Napoleon crowned himself Emperor, Beethoven struck Napoleon’s name from the score in disgust and re-named it simply the “Eroica” or “Heroic” symphony.

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 19

Two big symphony concerts Beethoven sets the heroic tone immediately and carries the hero’s theme throughout the four movements – from glorious heights to death and “rebirth.” Don’t miss this “heroic” evening with the glorious music of Beethoven.

At the end of the month, Symphony of the Mountains travels to Virginia for two Family Concerts entitled “Once Upon a Time...”

On Saturday, October 30 at 3:00 pm at

the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Symphony of the Mountains combines its talents with several guest artists. Students and faculty from the University of Virginia at Wise as well as members of the Appalachian Children’s Theatre tell the stories which are portrayed by the orchestra. Such favorites as “Peter and the Wolf,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “West Side Story,” “Lord of the Rings,” “The Nut-

cracker Suite,” and others will be heard through the spoken word together with music. Donald Sorah, professor of trumpet at UVA Wise, will be the featured soloist.

This interactive program includes a pre-concert Instrument Building workshop for children at 2:00 pm as well as a post-concert “Petting Zoo” for hands-on experience with some instruments of the orchestra. The same concert will be presented the next day,

Sunday, October 31, at 3:00 pm in the J.W. Adams Combined School in Pound,VA, including the pre-concert workshop for children at 2:00 pm and the postconcert “Petting Zoo.” For tickets and more information visit the website www.symphonyofthemountains.org or call the symphony box office at (423) 3928423.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door the day of the performance!

Page 20, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion will appear at Down Home on Thursday, September 16, performing songs from their upcoming release Bright Examples (February 2011), a collaboration with San Francisco folk band Vetiver, as well as their debut album Exploration. They will perform with a full band featuring drummer Greg “G. Wiz” Wieczorek (Norah Jones, Autumn Defense, Golden Smog), as well as Rad Lorkovic (Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, Greg Brown) on piano and Charlie Rose (The Crooked Jades, Tony Trischka, Adrienne Young) on bass, both of who appear on the new album.

Produced by Vetiver’s Andy Cabic and Thom Monahan and recorded at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, NY, Bright Examples features 12 original songs that showcase a new electric sound for Sarah Lee and Johnny. The duo’s signature songwriting and harmonies meet with intertwining electric guitars, drums and drum machines, B3 organ, vintage acoustic guitars, pedal steel and grand piano. Special guests on Bright Examples include Vetiver’s drummer Otto Houser, Mark Olson of The Jayhawks, singer/songwriter Neal Casal and more.

Appalachian State University’s 2010-2011 Performing Arts Series is thrilled to present the North Carolina string band, Red Clay Ramblers at Farthing Auditorium at 8pm on Friday, September 17, 2010.

Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and Appalachian’s faculty and staff and $10 for Appalachian’s students and students 18 and under. Ticket prices increase at the door on show nights. Series subscription packages are available through September 17 and offer discounts as well as priority seating. For tickets or information, call the Farthing Auditorium Box Office at 800-841-ARTS(2787) or 828-2624046, or visit www.pas.appstate.edu.

What happens when you combine an unlikely compilation of music genres such as bluegrass, New Orleans Jazz, gospel, rock, country and the American musical? You get a sound that can only belong to the Red Clay Ramblers. Now in their 38th year, the Tony Award-winning band has shot to international acclaim over the years and has been awarded two Drama Desk nominations, most recently for their work in the Broadway hit Fool Moon. The Ramblers have performed internationally, winning the hearts of audiences and critics alike. The New York Post describes them as a “country band that not only redefines ‘country’ but also redefines ‘band’.” They have frequented Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion who says the band is simply “wonderful!” They have also appeared nationally with Jay Leno, Harry Smith and Candice Bergen. Over the years, they have had the opportunity to perform with such figures as Grammy-winner Shawn Colvin (a former member of the Ramblers), Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Eugene Chadbourn, Ireland’s Boys of the Lough, Randy Newman and Michele Shocked.

The Red Clay Ramblers will be performing a set of songs that spans their long career including songs from their latest album, Old North State. The current Ramblers roster is made up of Jack Herrick (bass & trumpet), Clay Buckner (fiddle), Chris Frank (guitar & tuba) and Bland Simpson (piano).

They will be joined by Rick Good (banjo) and Rob Ladd (drums) for their performance at Appalachian State.

The 2010-2011 Performing Arts Series is a presentation of Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. The mission of the series is to support the teaching mission of Appalachian State University by presenting a diverse array of music, dance, and theatre events designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the campus and surrounding region. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of Appalachian State University’s campus community and the surrounding region.

The performances presented by the Performing Arts Series give both students and community members the chance to experience a diverse line up of live performances that are not typically offered in this region. They are offered the chance to experience music from different countries, watch history come to life through a play, be invited into the traditions of another culture and discover the beauty and imagination of dance. All of this is provided to the students and greater community of Appalachian State University throughout the academic year.

Appalachian’s Performing Arts Series continues on October 29 with American Legacies: The Del McCoury Band & Preservation Hall Jazz Band, North Carolina Symphony (November 11), LA Theatre Works: The Real Dr. Strangelove: Edward

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 21

Red Clay Ramblers to Perform at Appalachian State Teller and the Battle for the H-Bomb (January 22, 2011), Balé Folclórico da Bahia (February 15, 2011), Russian National Ballet: Romeo &

Juliet and Chopiniana (March 2, 2011) and Acoustic Africa: Habib Koité, Oliver Mtukudzi and Afel Bocoum (Aril 8, 2011). For tickets or infor-

mation, call the Farthing Auditorium Box Office at 800-841-ARTS(2787) or 828262-4046, or visit www.pas. appstate.edu

Page 22, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Recall when I have mentioned my friend David, the one who lives in Texas? Anyway, the point of that is this is yet another yarn that involves the both us getting into our own sitcom-esq situation. Shorty before he moved he decided that his long neglected dinning room needed some renovation, we both knew he’d be moving before too long and he wanted to do some work on his house in hopes of getting a better return come time of the great upheaval.

His house never was in bad shape, but the dining room was

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross

The Renovation something that had seen one too many Thanksgivings gone wrong. It was the last part of the house he never updated, as it was a room that mostly was used for our tense Monopoly sessions.

David’s house was built in the early 80’s, but it looked fine and had a few updates done to it before he bought it. The dining room however still had this wood paneling up, the kind that would be been better in the basement, it always made us feel like we were eating at our Aunt’s house. The paneling

had been replaced with drywall, he had that done before I got into the picture. All that was left was for us was to paint the room and make it look appealing to a young couple looking for that little love nest they had been dreaming about. This did mean the Lego statue of Bugs Bunny David had made would have to go into storage, sadly most people do not find this as enticing as the people in my life would.

We had no idea what to do, both of us are big Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts, so unless a

really hip group stumbled into the house, that wouldn’t work.

We decided to watch HGTV for inspiration, but that didn’t help much either. To our eyes it seemed that most of the renovation shows on there had one goal in mind: to strip a house of all its character. The second anyone sees a Mid-Centry Modern bathroom they take a sledgehammer to it and reduce it into as dull and sanitary a space it could possibly be.

I called a friend’s father, who is a Realtor, and asked him what we should do. He

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 23 suggested we paint the room white, that way a future couple could “project their lives in the house on the wall”. We figured that if we did that we could also project “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman” on the wall and have a killer going away party.

It was agreed and David and I hauled off in his truck to the paint store to buy supplies.

That weekend we decided to start in on it, we began Friday night and figured we could at least get one wall covered if anything else. We both had on ratty clothes that made us look like the worst clowns you’d ever seen, we grabbed our rollers and started panting, all the time while singing along to David’s Chuck Berry records. It was interesting hearing us cut in with talk during the songs: “Long distance information - you got paint on me - Memphis, Tennessee...”

We stopped around ten that night, covered two walls, washed ourselves up and played The Game of Life which David won. The next day we started early, ten in the morning, and by night fall we

had the walls finished. One wall was still wet when we sat down to relax, little did we know that a fly was loose inside the house, nor did we know that David’s cat was chasing said fly.

We were both watching TV when we heard several quick thuds come from the dining room. Turns out the cat had jumped up on the wall in an attempt to catch the fly, he had to jump on the one area where the paint hadn’t fully dried. Little paw prints were on a portion of the floor, we weren’t sure if we should clean them or tell people the room was a nursery.

In the end we cleaned them and re-painted that wall.

About a month or so later, David moved and successfully sold his house. We were told the young couple that bought it fell in love when they found it so easy to see their future together in that house. David was happy and so was I, and of all things we did later learn that they found these strange paw prints in the master closet... that cat got around. See you next week.

Music on the Square presents The Johnson City Community Concert Band September 17 at 7 p.m. in historic downtown Jonesborough. The Johnson City Community Concert Band performs for community events and provides citizens of Northeast Tennessee an opportunity to perform music as a community service.

Today’s band is made up of approximately 60 members and associate members who have a diverse background in music - from professional band directors to non music professionals of all ages. The Band’s conductor is Roxanne Haskill. For more information visit musiconthesquare.com or call the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 423-753-1010.

Page 24, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Jonesborough Repertory Theatre to Host Annual Stage Hands Production for Hearing Impaired

The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre will present the Stage Hands production of Mye and the Sandpeople September 16-19 and 23-26, Thursday-Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Mye, a young storyteller in search of a story, finds one in the deaf Empress Imperia. Imperia’s happiness has been stolen from her by the mysterious Bork. It will take the help of Mye, Mungo the Music Maker, the Sandpeople, and the Audience to get it back.

Stage Hands is the only Community Theatre Sign Language Troupe in East TN. In each of its productions, Stage Hands communicates through both spoken English and American Sign Language. This allows Stage

Hands to introduce hearing audiences to the beauty of American Sign Language and deaf culture.

“One of my goals is to give the deaf in our community another option for entertainment while introducing them to the wonder of live theatre. Because of the communication barrier, their entertainment choices are extremely limited,” said Stage Hands founder Janette Gaines. “Because our local movie theaters are not captioned, deaf cannot go see the latest box office hit like most of us. Stage Hands performances give deaf one more option on a limited menu. What better opportunity to provide than our live theatre.”

Stage Hands celebrated its premier performance in 2008 with Aesop’s Fables. The group has held performances for The Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, and for Mountain Empire Baptist School and Deaf School in Bristol. In October of 2008, Stage Hands took on its first slated main-stage production at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, The Firebird. And in 2009, Stage Hands presented The Signal Season of Dummy Hoy, based on a non-fictional character who was a deaf professional baseball player at the turn of the 20th century who was ultimately responsible for the hand signals used in baseball today.

This year’s production of Mye and the Sandpeople focuses on the value of storytelling. “I really think this story is perfect to show the value of storytelling to communication. Both our hearing and hearing impaired patrons will get the same story at the same time through our shadow interpreting-style theatre,” Gaines said. “My goal with all Stage Hands productions is not only to have a language interpreted, but to have interpreters as actors in every scene and part of the show.”

Reservations are recommended and tickets cost $12 general admission and $10 for students and seniors. For information or to make a reservation, contact the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at (423) 753-1010 or the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre at (423) 791-4440, or you may visit www.jonesboroughtheatre.com. The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is located at 125½ West Main Street, Jonesborough, across from Jonesborough Presbyterian Church, next door to the Historic Eureka Inn.

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 25

Page 26, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Apparently last week I was having issues with actors and their films. If you saw my review last week for Takers, I am sure you realize I used Matt Damon in error for one of the films stars, Matt Dillon. I am a fan of both actors, so for some reason I must have had Damon’s work on my mind. I apologize for this glaring error, and feel bad for Dillon, so I am running the article again with corrections. Hopefully the Hollywood sign will not collapse due to my error.

First up is the new film Takers starring Matt Dillon and Paul Walker among others.

Dillon stars as Jack Welles, a L.A. police officer who attempts to bring down some seasoned robbers. The robbers, calling themselves “takers”, include Walker, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, Chris Brown, Idris Ealy, and T.I. The bank robbers have been very successful in their endeavors , and save for the one who was caught and sent to prison, and are living a life of luxury. The robbers have decided to take a break for about a year before they do another robbery, until the fellow robber who was in prison is released, and convinces the group to do one last job with him. Not a good idea.

After some convincing that the job is fail proof, the ex-con convinces his fellow robbers to rob two armored cars that will be carrying $20 million. The cars will be traveling through the

Screen Scenes

by Ken Silvers

A correction and a new movie streets of downtown Los Angeles, and every thing must be planned to perfection in order for the group to be successful.

In the meantime, Wells and his fellow officer Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez), are about to uncover the planner robbery. The storyline does attempt to delve into the private lives of several of the characters without distracting too much from the planned heist.

The movie is well cast, and Dillon appears to have settled into roles involving the police.

However in one of his last films, Armored, Dillon was on the wrong side of the law. Oh, and said movie involved armored cars as well. A pattern?

The other actors are also effective in their roles, and I was

especially surprised by the performance of singer Chris Brown. He was excellent in his role, and I would expect to see him in many other films.

The film has an overall “cool” feel, I guess aided by the fact Christensen was always wearing a hat, and played the piano. I felt the action in the film was just right, and the storyline was fine for the material presented.

I was taken aback by the ending, but was happy to see the filmmakers decided not to have a typical “Hollywood” ending. Overall, Takers made for an enjoyable action/ crime/thriller.

(Rated PG-13) B

The second bonus film this week is The American, starring George Clooney, and is an adaption of the 1990 novel A Very Private Gentleman.

Clooney stars as Jack, an assassin, who at the beginning of the film is in Sweden with a lady love.

Not long after we are introduced to Jack, events take a tragic turn and the assassin is off to Rome where he makes contact with an associate.

The associate encourages Jack to flee Rome for the Italian countryside, and soon he is in a small town where he is befriended by a local priest.

Jack is posing as a photographer, but the priest is not convinced his new acquaint-

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 27 demeanor considering their line of work.

Clooney does an excellent job in the role, especially for those of us more familiar with his “happy go lucky” characters.

The film comes off as a big budget art house film, and this is my favorite aspect of The American. Even the score is sparse and sometimes nonexistent, which can be jarring for movie fans accustomed to jarring soundtracks. The story

ance is telling the truth.

Not long after he has settled in to his lodging, Jack is contacted by the associate with information on a new job.

Jack soon meets with a woman (Thekla Reuten), who wants him to construct a gun

to her specifications.

While Jack is working on the gun, he is being perused by another assassin, and begins keeping company with a local prostitute (Violante Placido). So needless to say Jack has quite the active life

in Italy.

The character of Jack, as presented by Clooney, appears cold and non-caring on one hand, and then longing for love and stability on the other.

Of course one would expect an assassin to have a steely

is a great mixture of action and quiet character study, making this an excellent vehicle for the talents of Clooney.

In addition, even though we never discover who Jack is officially working for, this aspect only added to the mysterious feel of the film.

The American is a classy thriller with a shocking ending that may just be Oscar fodder.

(Rated R) A

Page 28, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

There is a difference between living on the land and dwelling in it - understanding its rhythms, its potential, and its limits.

Those who develop intimacy with a place over time tend to accept responsibility for it. I dwell in a place that’s a bit over two acres in size. It’s steep, rocky and rooty, with poor soil and a lot of ‘trash’ trees. But at first glance, you don’t notice those drawbacks because it’s commanding height offers beautiful views and it’s abundance of trees (both trash and good ones) identifies it as a vibrant, alive space. I certainly didn’t notice the drawbacks on the first day I saw it. After living here eight years, I’ve come to love it, and have entertwined my personal roots with those of the trees that border our cabin.

Poet and essayist Gary Snyder puts it best: “Of all the memberships we identify ourselves by, the one thing that is most forgotten, and that has the greatest potential for healing, is place. We

TRANSITIONS

by Sam Jones

A Sense of Place must learn to know, love, and join our place even more than we love our own ideas. People who can agree that they share a commitment to the landscape/cityscape -- even if they are otherwise locked in struggle with each other -- have at least one deep thing to share.”

The seasonal rhythms that affect every place on Earth

seem to be more pronounced here, but I suspect it’s simply because I’m so tuned in to this place I call home. The interconnectedness of all the living things that inhabit my “green acres” made itself apparent recently because of that awareness. I found a gartner snake by the kitchen door, already in the process of trying to swallow a poor toad that was far bigger than he. My first inclination was to shoo the snake away, but when I did, I realized it was too late, and that even though the frog was alive, his back legs were damaged so badly he couldn’t move. My very human nature felt badly for the poor toad, but I began to recognize that I held no part in this macabre dinner scene and so I backed away. The snake returned to finish his meal and I learned

yet another lesson about nature and my place within it.

We humans tend to feel that we are dominant over all other living things, when in reality, we are merely a speck in the eye of the giant we know as nature.

The ‘sense of place’ I feel here is the same for the snake and the toad. The three of us share that sensibility. My smallholding on this former farmland has been designated a ‘Wildlife Habitat’ by the National Wildlife Federation because I pledged to provide food, water and shelter for the others that share it with me. It was never designated a ‘Human Habitat’, that’s only assumed. THEY were here first!

Caring for this land, working to build the soil fertility in the garden beds, and planting trees that will outlive me have

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 29 not only enriched the area, but has allowed me to connect with the natural world that’s so abundant here. There’s a message in all of this that we humans might do well to remember: How can we as a society, learn to honor and protect the whole Earth if we haven’t even learned to do that at home, in whatever place we dwell.

Bioregion is defined as an area constituting a natural ecological community with characteristic flora, fauna, and environmental conditions and bounded by natural rather than artificial borders. We all share this bioregion, and as Mr. Snyder so aptly put it, “even if we are otherwise locked in struggle with each other - we have at least one deep thing to share.” That deep thing we all share is a sense of place.

I notice as I type the letters p-l-a-c-e, that it’s only one letter removed from p-e-a-c-e.

Having a sense of place has certainly given me a sense of peace in my life. I’ve spent most of my life searching for greener pastures, but once I became grounded here, the roots began to grow, as did the peace within me. Discovering my own sense of place has really opened my heart to the healing properties that this land had to offer. When you love another human, you want only the best for your loved one and you tend to treat them with respect and compassion.

Having a love of place is like that too.

TriCities Voluntary Simplicity group will be offering an eight-week discussion course this fall, called “Discovering A Sense of Place” if there are at least eight people to preregister. We will be meeting on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month at the Holston Valley UU Church in Gray, from 7-8:30 p.m. The course will run from Oct. 6 through Jan. 19. There is a workbook for the course that costs $20 plus a small shipping fee, depending on how many are ordered. If this is something that you’d like to take part in, please email me at: simpleintn@yahoo.com with a subject line of “A Sense of Place”.

Cane mill turned by mules

The 2010 Sorghum & Scutching Festival will be held Saturday, September 25 at the Tipton Haynes State Historic Site in Johnson City from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Visitors will have the opportunity to observe sorghum cane being processed into molasses using a mule-powered mill. Those who want to help strip cane and participate in the process are welcome.

Visitors can also watch as flax is broken on a flax brake, the outer layer removed using a scutching board and knife, and then pulling the fibers through a hackle to produce long fibers that can be spun into linen thread.

There will also be a number of autumn activities to enjoy, including apple butter and cider making, open hearth cooking, and other historic-based crafts.

Old-time music will serenade visitors as they tour the historic buildings. Soup beans, corn bread, and home-made apple fritters will be available for a small fee. Admission is $4 for adults and free for children 12 and under.

For teachers, home school groups, and other educators, Tipton-Haynes will be offering “Extra Credit Coupons” which will allow students and their family to enter for free.

For more information, teachers should email Tipton-Haynes at tiptonhaynes@embarqmail.com.

For additional information, please call (423) 926-3631.

Tipton-Haynes is located in south Johnson City at 2620 South Roan Street.

Page 30, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

This Week In The Mountain Empire Special Schedule by Stage, Artist, Date & Time Borderline Billiards Stage by Angel & Lynn Dougherty Artist Date,Time Mudbugs, The, 09/17/2010, 6:30 PM Kelley & the Cowboys- Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/17/2010,8:15 PM Straight 8’s, The ,09/17/2010,10:00 PM Michelle Malone ,09/17/2010,11:45 PM Addie Brownlee ,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Drunk Uncles, The - Friendship Family of Dealership,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Dave Desmelik - Fri/Sat, J.A. Street & Associates,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Devil Makes Three, The ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Deep Dark Woods - VA Electric & Industrial Mine Supply,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Woody Pines ,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Big Daddy Love ,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Boulder Acoustic Society ,09/18/2010,10:30 PM Barefoot Movement, The,09/19/2010,1:00 PM

Shane Pruitt Band ,09/19/2010,2:30 PM Tremors, The ,09/19/2010,4:15 PM BVU Children’s Day Stage Artist,Date,Time East Tennessee Children’s Choir ,09/18/2010,9:00 AM Zappo The Clown Magic Show - Children’s Day Performance,09/18/2010,10:30 AM CB Squared,09/18/2010,11:30 AM C. J. & Company Stage by Tri-Summitt Bank Artist,Date,Time Anthony Wayne ,09/17/2010,6:00 PM Major Canty,09/17/2010,7:45 PM Fire in the Kitchen ,09/17/2010,9:30 PM Jeff Robbins,09/18/2010,12:30 PM Gail Wade - Sat, Bank of Tennessee,09/18/2010,2:00 PM Julie Gribble - @Work Personnel Services,09/18/2010,3:30 PM Kim Lyons - Holston Medical Group,09/18/2010,5:00 PM Roger Rasnake ,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Johnson’s Crossroad ,09/18/2010,8:00

PM Annie Robinette,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Eleanor Ellis - First Tennessee Bank,09/19/2010,12:30 PM Sourwood Mountain String Band ,09/19/2010,2:15 PM Side Two - Sponsored by BurWil Construction,09/19/2010,4:00 PM

Inv./Rob Sim,09/18/2010,9:00 PM James Hand ,09/18/2010,10:30 PM Brand New Strings - @Work Personnel Services,09/19/2010,1:30 PM Ed Snodderly - Ambulance Service of Bristol,09/19/2010,3:00 PM Drunk Uncles, The - Friendship Family of Dealership,09/19/2010,4:30 PM

Cameo Stage sponsored by Kroger Artist,Date,Time Elkville String Band ,09/17/2010,5:30 PM Breaking Tradition - American Steel & Iron Co.,09/17/2010,7:00 PM Dale Jett ,09/17/2010,8:30 PM Wayne Henderson - Blackbird Bakery,09/17/2010,10:00 PM Ted Olson,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Sarah Jarosz ,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Black Lillies, The -Sponsored by Strongwell,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Boxcars, The ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Larry Cordle ,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Missy Raines & the New Hip - AnRite Medical Supply,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Rockin’ Acoustic Circus - Edward Jones

Country Music Mural Stage by Line Power/ Federal Pacific Artist,Date,Time Dale Ann Bradley & Kim Fox ,09/17/2010,5:15 PM Chris Jones & the Night Drivers ,09/17/2010,6:45 PM Missy Raines & the New Hip - AnRite Medical Supply,09/17/2010,8:15 PM Del McCoury Band, The ,09/17/2010,9:45 PM Carson Peters & the Rockhouse Stringband,09/18/2010,10:30 AM Snyder Family Band - Sponsored by Glaxo SmithKline,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Big Country Bluegrass - Sponsored by Bolts & Screws,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Rockin’ Acoustic Circus - Edward Jones

Inv./Rob Sim,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Sarah Jarosz ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Red Molly ,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Boxcars, The ,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Gibson Brothers, The - BurWil Construction Co.,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder ,09/18/2010,10:30 PM James Hand ,09/19/2010,12:00 PM Joe Diffie Bluegrass Band - Rounder Records,09/19/2010,1:30 PM Blue Highway ,09/19/2010,3:00 PM Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver ,09/19/2010,4:45 PM Dance Tent by BB&T Artist,Date,Time Dave Desmelik - Fri/Sat, J.A. Street & Associates,09/17/2010,6:00 PM Woes, The,09/17/2010,7:30 PM Brian McGee & the Hollow Speed ,09/17/2010,9:00 PM Boulder Acoustic Society ,09/17/2010,10:30 PM Old Sledge,09/18/2010,11:30 AM Hot Seats, The,09/18/2010,1:00 PM Possum Creek Play-

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 31 boys,09/18/2010,2:30 PM Shotgun Party ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Two Man Gentleman Band, The - Fri/ Sat,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Holy Ghost Tent Revival - Bank of Tennessee,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Cutthroat Shamrock - Sponsored by Holston Medical Group,09/18/2010,9:00 PM New Familiars, The ,09/18/2010,10:30 PM Defibulators, The - Ambulance Service of Bristol,09/19/2010,12:30 PM Morning Pages, The - Sponsored by Blowfish Emporium,09/19/2010,2:15 PM Hoots & Hellmouth ,09/19/2010,4:00 PM Eatz on Moore Stage by King College Artist,Date,Time Possum Jenkins,09/17/2010,5:00 PM Wolf Creek ,09/17/2010,6:30 PM Rockin’ Acoustic Circus - Edward Jones Inv./Rob Sim,09/17/2010,8:15 PM Eden’s Edge - First Tennessee Bank,09/17/2010,10:00 PM Rambling Rose,09/18/2010,11:30 AM Joy Kills Sorrow ,09/18/2010,1:00 PM Snyder Family Band - Sponsored by Glaxo SmithKline,09/18/2010,2:30 PM Harlow Experience, The - Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/18/2010,4:00 PM Ryan McGiver & Pat Mangan ,09/18/2010,5:30 PM

Whiskey Bent Valley Boys - Blackbird Bakery,09/18/2010,7:00 PM Phil Wiggins & Rick Franklin ,09/18/2010,8:30 PM Shazam, The,09/18/2010,10:00 PM Annie & the Beekeepers - Sassy Bags & Shoes,09/19/2010,1:00 PM Brand New Strings - @Work Personnel Services,09/19/2010,2:45 PM Lost Ridge Band ,09/19/2010,4:30 PM Java J’s Stage by Settlers Life Artist,Date,Time Matt Lindahl ,09/17/2010,5:00 PM JP Parsons,09/17/2010,6:30 PM Old Oak Revival, The,09/17/2010,8:15 PM Eleanor Ellis - First Tennessee Bank,09/17/2010,10:00 PM Ben Gilmer & The Sam Lamont Band ,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Julie Gribble - @Work Personnel Services,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Sourwood Mountain String Band ,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Nathan Blake Lynn ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Grit Pixies, The ,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Old Sledge,09/18/2010,7:30 PM City Lights, The ,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Sapling Grove - Brown, Edwards & Company, LLP,09/19/2010,12:30 PM Holston Mountain Boys ,09/19/2010,2:15 PM

Gospel Grass ,09/19/2010,4:00 PM KP Duty Stage by Eastman Credit Union Artist,Date,Time Cotton Hill,09/17/2010,6:00 PM Corklickers, The ,09/17/2010,7:30 PM Breaking Tradition - American Steel & Iron Co.,09/17/2010,9:00 PM Jason Byrd & Friends ,09/17/2010,10:30 PM JP Parsons,09/18/2010,12:30 PM East Tennessee State University Celtic Band ,09/18/2010,2:00 PM Old Oak Revival, The,09/18/2010,3:30 PM Misty Strings ,09/18/2010,5:00 PM Boss Hawg ,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Louise Mosrie - Up Against the Wall Gallery,09/18/2010,8:00 PM Wise Old River,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Miss Tess & The Bon Ton Parade ,09/18/2010,11:00 PM Highway 11,09/19/2010,12:00 PM Heather Berry,09/19/2010,1:45 PM Father Richard & the Holy Mountain Bluegrass Band,09/19/2010,3:15 PM Macado’s by Burke, Powers & Harty Artist,Date,Time Roger Rasnake ,09/17/2010,5:15 PM Blue Maize - Sponsored by Sassy Bags & Shoes,09/17/2010,6:45 PM If Birds Could Fly,09/17/2010,8:30 PM

Two Man Gentleman Band, The - Fri/ Sat,09/17/2010,10:15 PM Anndrena Belcher & the Wildboys, VA Comm. for the Arts/NEA,09/18/2010,1:00 PM Side Two - Sponsored by BurWil Construction,09/18/2010,2:30 PM Blue Mother Tupelo ,09/18/2010,4:00 PM Major Canty,09/18/2010,5:30 PM Chorus House ,09/18/2010,7:00 PM Jay Clark - Brown, Edwards & Co., LLP,09/18/2010,8:30 PM Kim Lyons - Holston Medical Group,09/18/2010,10:00 PM Christabel & The Jons - Brown, Edwards & Co., LLP,09/19/2010,12:30 PM Matt Lindahl ,09/19/2010,2:15 PM If Birds Could Fly,09/19/2010,4:00 PM Machiavelli’s by Virginia Intermont College Artist,Date,Time Boss Hawg ,09/17/2010,6:00 PM Miss Tess & The Bon Ton Parade ,09/17/2010,7:45 PM Deep Dark Woods - VA Electric & Industrial Mine Supply,09/17/2010,9:30 PM Eliza Lynn Band,09/17/2010,11:15 PM Honey Dewdrops, The ,09/18/2010,12:30 PM Dave Dykes & the Grateful Hearts ,09/18/2010,2:00 PM Lost Ridge Band ,09/18/2010,3:30 PM

Corklickers, The ,09/18/2010,5:00 PM Christabel & The Jons - Brown, Edwards & Co., LLP,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Ian Gilliam & the FireKings ,09/18/2010,8:00 PM Slow Motion Trio ,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Brian McGee & the Hollow Speed ,09/18/2010,11:00 PM Blue Mother Tupelo ,09/19/2010,12:15 PM Ben Gilmer & The Sam Lamont Band ,09/19/2010,1:45 PM Annie Robinette Band, The Robinette Company,09/19/2010,3:15 PM Randy Hixson,09/19/2010,4:45 PM Manna Bagel Stage by Sassy Bags & Shoes Artist,Date,Time Randy Hixson,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Matt Lindahl ,09/18/2010,8:00 PM Scotty Melton,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Honey Dewdrops, The ,09/19/2010,1:00 PM Wise Old River,09/19/2010,2:45 PM H.B. Beverly -Triad Packaging,09/19/2010,4:30 PM O’Mainnin’s by Bristol Motor Speedway Artist,Date,Time Gerald Anderson & Friends,09/17/2010,5:15 PM Wires & Wood,09/17/2010,6:45 PM

Page 32, The Loafer • September 14, 2010 Natalie Kirk & Co. ,09/17/2010,8:30 PM Dale Watson ,09/17/2010,10:15 PM Cutthroat Shamrock - Sponsored by Holston Medical Group,09/17/2010,11:59 PM Eliza Lynn Band,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Ian Gilliam & the FireKings ,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Derek Hoke ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Tremors, The ,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Straight 8’s, The ,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Folk Soul Revival - Holston Medical Group,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Hot Seats, The,09/18/2010,10:30 PM Morning Pages, The - Sponsored by Blowfish Emporium,09/18/2010,11:59 PM Johnson’s Crossroad ,09/19/2010,12:45 PM Shotgun Party ,09/19/2010,2:30 PM Ryan McGiver & Pat Mangan ,09/19/2010,4:15 PM Paramount Center Stage by BTES Artist,Date,Time WDVX Blue Plate Special with M.S.G.Acoustic Blues Trio & These Undowners,09/17/2010,1:00 PM Infamous Stringdusters, The - Sponsored by Dr. Bill Horne, DDS,09/17/2010,7:00 PM Dale Ann Bradley & Kim Fox ,09/17/2010,8:30 PM Cadillac Sky ,09/17/2010,10:00 PM WDVX Blue Plate Special w/Dale Watson and Missy Raines & The New Hip,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Missy Raines & the New Hip - AnRite Medical Supply,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Chris Jones & the Night Drivers ,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Red Molly ,09/18/2010,3:00 PM East Tennessee State University Celtic Band ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM

Gibson Brothers, The - BurWil Construction Co.,09/18/2010,6:00 PM 18 South - Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Darrell Scott ,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Duty Free Tribute to Tennessee Ernie Ford,09/19/2010,1:00 PM Uncle Monk (w/Tommy Ramone) - Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline,09/19/2010,2:30 PM M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio,09/19/2010,4:00 PM Carolina Chocolate Drops ,09/19/2010,5:30 PM Piedmont Stage by Walling Distributing Company Artist,Date,Time Blue Mother Tupelo ,09/17/2010,5:30 PM Yarn ,09/17/2010,7:00 PM Folk Soul Revival - Holston Medical Group,09/17/2010,8:30 PM Todd Snider w/Great American Taxi ,09/17/2010,10:00 PM Infamous Stringdusters, The - Sponsored by Dr. Bill Horne, DDS,09/17/2010,11:30 PM Mountain Music School Kids,09/18/2010,11:00 AM Steel Wheels, The ,09/18/2010,12:30 PM William Walter & Co. ,09/18/2010,2:00 PM Defibulators, The - Ambulance Service of Bristol,09/18/2010,3:30 PM Woes, The,09/18/2010,5:00 PM Hoots & Hellmouth ,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Cadillac Sky ,09/18/2010,8:00 PM Felice Brothers, The ,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Unknown Hinson ,09/18/2010,11:30 PM Kelley & the Cowboys- Friendship Fam-

ily of Dealerships,09/19/2010,11:45 AM Darrell Scott Trio ,09/19/2010,1:15 PM Deep Dark Woods - VA Electric & Industrial Mine Supply,09/19/2010,2:45 PM Holy Ghost Tent Revival - Bank of Tennessee,09/19/2010,4:15 PM Shanghai Stage by Atmos Energy Artist,Date,Time Whitetop Mountain Band,09/17/2010,6:30 PM Elkville String Band ,09/17/2010,8:15 PM Elizabeth LaPrelle,09/17/2010,10:00 PM Cotton Hill,09/18/2010,12:00 PM If Birds Could Fly,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Tennessee Skyline - J A Street & Associates,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Nate Leath & Friends,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Jason Byrd & Friends ,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Lost Creek Band ,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Big Country Bluegrass - Sponsored by Bolts & Screws,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Randy Hixson,09/19/2010,12:30 PM Amazed by Grace ,09/19/2010,2:15 PM Pleasant Hill Band,09/19/2010,3:45 PM State Line Bar & Grill Stage by Gastroenterology Associates Artist,Date,Time Shazam, The,09/17/2010,6:15 PM Big Daddy Love ,09/17/2010,8:00 PM Shake It Like a Caveman ,09/17/2010,9:45 PM Shazam, The,09/17/2010,11:30 PM Wolf Creek ,09/18/2010,12:30 PM New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters,09/18/2010,2:00 PM Shane Pruitt Band ,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Possum Jenkins,09/18/2010,5:00 PM Ben Gilmer & The Sam Lamont Band ,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Yarn ,09/18/2010,8:00 PM William Walter & Co. ,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Devil Makes Three, The ,09/18/2010,11:00 PM Slow Motion Trio ,09/19/2010,1:00 PM Derek Hoke ,09/19/2010,2:45 PM Annabelle’s Curse,09/19/2010,4:15 PM State Street Stage by Alpha Natural Resources Artist,Date,Time T.C. & The High Road Band ,09/17/2010,5:00 PM These Undowners - Sponsored by Triad Packaging,09/17/2010,6:30 PM New Familiars, The ,09/17/2010,8:00 PM Devil Makes Three, The ,09/17/2010,9:30 PM Dr. Dog ,09/17/2010,11:00 PM Uncle Monk (w/Tommy Ramone) - Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Ron Short & the Possum Playboys,09/18/2010,1:30 PM

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 33 James Hand ,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Brinley Addington - Up Against the Wall Gallery,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Black Lillies, The -Sponsored by Strongwell,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Dale Watson ,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Michelle Malone ,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Drive-By Truckers ,09/18/2010,11:00 PM Phil Wiggins & Rick Franklin ,09/19/2010,12:45 PM Carolina Chocolate Drops ,09/19/2010,2:00 PM 18 South - Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/19/2010,3:30 PM John Anderson ,09/19/2010,5:00 PM Sunnyside Up Cafe Stage by Friendship Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Artist,Date,Time Susan Brown & Friends,09/17/2010,6:30 PM Count This Penny - Triad Packaging,09/17/2010,8:15 PM Jay Clark - Brown, Edwards & Co., LLP,09/17/2010,10:00 PM T.C. & The High Road Band ,09/17/2010,11:30 PM Houser & Co. ,09/18/2010,1:00 PM Jeff Robbins,09/18/2010,2:30 PM Anndrena Belcher & the Wildboys, VA Comm. for the Arts/NEA,09/18/2010,4:00 PM Duty Free - Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/18/2010,5:30 PM Bailey Cooke ,09/18/2010,7:00 PM Sigean - Holston Medical Group,09/18/2010,8:30 PM Whitetop Mountain Band,09/18/2010,10:00 PM Scotty Melton,09/19/2010,12:15 PM Misty Strings ,09/19/2010,2:00 PM Addie Brownlee ,09/19/2010,3:45 PM Theater Bristol by Snack Alliance Artist,Date,Time Grit Pixies, The ,09/17/2010,6:30 PM Steel Wheels, The ,09/17/2010,8:00 PM M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio,09/17/2010,9:30 PM

M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio,09/18/2010,12:30 PM Whiskey Bent Valley Boys - Blackbird Bakery,09/18/2010,2:00 PM Duty Free - Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/18/2010,3:30 PM Kelley & the Cowboys- Friendship Family of Dealerships,09/18/2010,5:00 PM Annie & the Beekeepers - Sassy Bags & Shoes,09/18/2010,6:30 PM Ed Snodderly - Ambulance Service of Bristol,09/18/2010,8:00 PM Joy Kills Sorrow ,09/18/2010,9:30 PM Woody Pines ,09/19/2010,12:00 PM Nathan Blake Lynn ,09/19/2010,1:30 PM Louise Mosrie - Up Against the Wall Gallery,09/19/2010,3:00 PM Red Molly ,09/19/2010,4:30 PM Troutdale Bistro Stage by Critical Care Physicians of Bristol Artist,Date,Time Houser & Co. ,09/17/2010,5:30 PM Bailey Cooke ,09/17/2010,7:00 PM Anthony Wayne ,09/17/2010,8:45 PM Natalie Kirk & Co. ,09/17/2010,10:30 PM Gail Wade - Sat, Bank of Tennessee,09/18/2010,12:00 PM Father Richard & the Holy Mountain Bluegrass Band,09/18/2010,1:30 PM Johnny & Jeanette Williams,09/18/2010,3:00 PM Eleanor Ellis - First Tennessee Bank,09/18/2010,4:30 PM Shazam, The,09/18/2010,6:00 PM H.B. Beverly -Triad Packaging,09/18/2010,7:30 PM Shake It Like a Caveman ,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Julie Gribble - @Work Personnel Services,09/19/2010,1:00 PM Houser & Co. ,09/19/2010,2:30 PM Anthony Wayne ,09/19/2010,4:00 PM VA Folklife Stage Artist,Date,Time Elizabeth LaPrelle,09/17/2010,5:00 PM

Del McCoury,09/17/2010,6:00 PM Gerald Anderson & Friends - Instrument Makers,09/17/2010,7:15 PM Wayne Henderson & Friends,09/17/2010,8:00 PM Michelle Malone - The Craft of the Song,09/17/2010,9:15 PM Whitetop Mountain Band - Friday Stomp,09/17/2010,10:15 PM Johnny & Jeanette Williams,09/18/2010,11:30 AM

Mountain Music School Kids,09/18/2010,1:00 PM Kids Showcase with Adam Larkey, Ty Edwards & Carson Peters,09/18/2010,1:00 PM Reverend Frank Newsome,09/18/2010,2:30 PM New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters,09/18/2010,3:30 PM Chinese ‘Rithmatic,09/18/2010,6:00 PM Ricky Skaggs,09/18/2010,7:00 PM

Nate Leath & Friends,09/18/2010,9:00 PM Blues Showcase with Rick Franklin, Phil Wiggins & Eleanor Ellis,09/19/2010,11:00 AM Stevie Barr - Banjo Workshop,09/19/2010,12:30 PM Doyle Lawson - Gospel Workshop,09/19/2010,2:30 PM Heather Berry,09/19/2010,4:00 PM

Page 34, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Notes of Interest

Arts

Looking for someone to hand quilt a quilt top. Please call in Kingsport @ 423-863-5911 or email tnfreckles@gmail.com Scrapbooking Classes! Learn about exciting new ideas and techniques whether you’re a beginner or not! Individual classes, workshops and crops available. Contact teachu2scrap@charter.net or call (423) 383-2897 for more information.

The Art Gurls, who are a group of creative women who get together once a month at the Wild Flour Restaurant in Abingdon, VA. To eat, drink, exchange stories and ideas, and to hatch out art projects. For further information call Barbara Carter at (423) 239-5757 or (423) 943-7505.

Ceramic Classes, Fridays 5-8 p.m., Drop-ins welcome. All day on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (423) 426-1027 or (423) 257-5117 for more information.

Wednesday Morning Painters meet at 10 a.m. each Wednesday at Abingdon’s Arts Depot for a few delightful hours of painting and artistic interaction. All persons interested in painting in an informal, relaxed atmosphere are encouraged to attend. All skill levels are represented and there is no fee. Contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-9091 for more information.

Flowers by Fran. Classes for painting flowers, wild life & landscape. Classes being taught. Call Fran at (423) 753-7310.

Art Life will offer a Creative Arts Program for children featuring workshops in creative writing, drama, play writing, are and photography. Workshops will be held Saturdays throughout the year. Cost is one-time (per year) fee of $40 per student, $60 for two in one family, and includes all workshops, art events and subscriptions to an arts publication featuring stories, poetry and other works by students. Call Kim at (423) 245-4711.

Classes/Workshops

Breastfeeding Support/LLL Johnson City Meeting – NEW Second Sundays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 East Market Street, Johnson City, TN 37601.

Meets in the lower level, room LL14.Call Samantha with questions at 423-956-3525

Parenting Information and Support - Johnson City Meeting – NEW TriCities Parenting, API Second Sundays 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 East Market Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 Meets in the lower level, room LL14. Call Samantha with questions at 423-956-3525 Parenting information and help – NEW TriCities Parenting, API Second Wednesdays 10:00 to 11:00 am Java Js coffee house on State Street in Bristol (501 State Street, Bristol, VA, 24201) Students from King College will have something for older children to do - this is optional and for your convenience, as desired. More info: Samantha, 423-956-3525 Breastfeeding Cafe – NEW Second Wednesdays 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Java Js coffee house on State Street in Bristol (501 State Street, Bristol, VA, 24201) Meeting style is casual, come get your questions answered, encourage others, etc. Students from King College will have something for older children to do - this is optional and for your convenience, as desired.

More info: Samantha, 423-956-3525 Breastfeeding Support/LLL Bristol Evening Meeting Fourth Tuesdays 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm YWCA Bristol, State Street, Bristol, TN Call Katherine with questions at 276-466-4860 Breastfeeding Support/LLL Bristol Day Meeting First Fridays 10:00 pm - 11:30 pm Avoca Branch Library, Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN Call Katherine with questions at 276-466-4860

Preparing for 2012-Before, Then & After Workshops are ongoing and held in Gray, TN. The 10-week workshop series explains the 2012 phenomena and provides the information necessary for students to understand what is happening on our planet and what they must do about it. Students learn to prepare themselves and their families mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually to effectively endure these occurrences. These workshops are not about fear, panic and desperation; they provide comfort, awareness, and knowledge of the truth during times of uncertainty. Dr. Mitzi Pyles intuitively received this vital information, and it is scientifically supported throughout the series. Contact Dr. Pyles at 423-467-3302 or visit www.PreparingFor2012.com for more information or dates and times of upcoming workshops.

An Introduction to The Heart of Huna: 7 steps to a whole-hearted life. Meets the 2nd Wednesday from 6:30-9:30pm. Imagine living your perfect life! This introduction to Hawaiian Huna and Aloha offers simple principles to live in harmony in relationship with oneself, each other and the environment. By applying the ancient principles of Huna you can achieve a life centered in love-for a more meaningful, whole-hearted life. For more information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) 926-1648 or www. kaleowheeler.com Magic Classes. Classes for beginners and up. Weekend workshops also available. Call Andrew Hyder for more information or to set

up a time. (423) 213-9312

Chics ‘n Chaps women’s motorcycle club meets the first Friday of each month at at 6:30pm Please call (423) 341-8914 or (423) 292-7923 for meeting location.

Learn to get what you want out of life. Personal Empowerment Workshops, Meditation and other new ongoing classes are now being formed. All of these workshops and classes offer powerful, practical techniques and tools that are specifically designed to help enhance al aspects of one’s life. Workshops are held each Monday night. Meditation classes are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month Other classes are offered as needed. Dr. Mitz Pyles facilitates them. For more information call (423) 467-3302.

Are you looking to give your life meaning?

Therapeutic Foster Parenting offers tremendous fulfillment. We need singles or married couples in Washington County, VA or Bristol VA to work with children from ages 5 to 18 who have some history or emotional instability. Specialized training and a monthly fee are both provided. Call Andre-Highlands Community Services at (276) 645-4781 for more information.

Interested in fostering or adopting a Child? The Tennessee Dept. of Children’s Services is currently offering a FREE Foster/Adoptive Paren Training. Classes will be offered in Johnson City, Greeneville, Rogersville, Elizabethton and Blountville. Please call 877-DCS-KIDS

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 35 (877-327-5437) for more information.

Therapeutic Yoga. To manage & control Parkinson’s Disease. Learn concentration, techniques, to neutralize, daily stresses & increase focus & memory. For more information call (423) 246-3805 or (423) 246-5149

Mavis Beacon Typing - Free of Charge. Boost efficiency and enhance productivity with sexcellent keyboarding skills. Mavis Beacon m.Teaches Typing 15 is an ideal tutorial program 3for any keyboard user. Featuring customized lessons, motivating speed tests and progress reports, dictation practice and more, this -versatile program is equally effective for the nyoung student typist, the busy executive or gthe professional administrative assistant seeksing to improve their skills. Instructor: Kim sSkeens, Lab Coordinator. Visit our website @ llwww.ywcabristol.org or for more information hcall for details, (423) 968-9444. n h.Trinity Baptist Church announces the start of zitwo new programs for children. Daughters of nthe King is a class for young ladies in 4th-6th grade where they will explore the basics of beauty. Through games, discussion, visiting ?consultants, and field trips we explore the -world of beauty and then they will learn about dwhat God describes as beautiful. Sons of the l,King is a program designed to build Godly 8,character in young men grades 4-6 through -Bible study, games, skill building and adeventure. Both groups meet on Mondays from -3:30-5 p.m. separately at the church located on eHeadtown Road in Jonesborough. Transportation may be available. Call the church at (423) 753-4394 for more information. e r-Learn to use therapeutic grade Essential Oils ntto benefit mind and body. Day and evening nworkshops limited spaces. For information n,and registration call (423) 232-6254.

S Magic Classes. Learn to do amazing magic tricks with everyday items. Tuesday nights at “Top Hat Magic Supply” in Bristol, TN from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Limited space. All ages welcome! Call Dave Vaught or Ryan Robinette for further information at (423) 968-3200.

Spanish Classes. John Arredondo & Associates is offering a variety of Spanish classes including Basic Spanish, Spanish II, Spanish for Building Trades, Spanish for Healthcare Workers, Spanish for Home Schoolers, Spanish Tutoring. For more information call (423) 483-4650.

Floral designing courses. A complete custom floral designing course day and night classes.

Limited space, 10 persons per class. Call Fran (423) 753-7310.

Knit Too Together (Regional knitting guild) meets the third Tuesday each month at 1 p.m. at Christian Fellowship Church off Interstate 81 at exit 63. Johnson City knitters carpool to meetings. Call (423) 232-0644 in Johnson City for further information.

Blue Ridge Quilt Guild, Johnson City – meets 1st Wednesday of month. Social 9:30 am, meeting 10 am. Our Savior Luthern Church, Sunset Dr. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule.

Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

First Frontier Quilters, Kingsport – meets 3rd Tuesday of month, 10 am at Bethel Presbyterian Church, Warpath Drive. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Holston Quilters Guild, Bristol TN – meets 3rd Saturday of month, 10 am at the First United Methodist Church, Vance Drive, Bristol. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Sycamore Stitchers, Elizabethton – meets 2nd Thursday of month, 9 am. At Sycamore Shoals State Park. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Appalchian Heritage Quilters, Gray – 1st Thursday of month is stitch-in, 3rd Thursday of month is meeting/program. Gray Community Center. 6 pm. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule.

Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Unaka Piecemakers Quilt Club, Erwin – 1st Tuesday is business meeting, then working on projects. 3rd Tuesday is stitch-in. Social, 9:30 a.m., meeting 10 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, Rock Creek Rd. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Quilting Classes. Sponsored by Tennessee Quilts in Jonesborough. For additional information phone at (423) 753-6644.

Dance

West Coast Swing Classes! Thursdays at 7pm. Only $10 per class! Held at Stardust Dance Centre. 321 E. Sullivan St. Downtown Kingsport. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information.

Dancing Divas Class for Women! Ladies, learn Hip Hop, country and western, salsa, line dancing, belly dancing and more. Great workout. Lots of fun! Thursdays at 8pm. Held at Stardust Dance Centre. 321 E. Sullivan St. Downtown Kingsport. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information. Group discounts available.

Hip-Hop. Learn the hottest new street dance moves and burn the floor! Every Thursday we offer beginner lessons for adults and kids.

Children 7-12 meet at 4pm. Ages 13 and up meet at 5pm. Learn short routines to the latest songs or join a dance team and perform.

Classes are held in downtown Kingsport.

Monthly payments are the lowest in the tricities. Taught by Mike and Mark. Call now to pre-register 292-9512.

Beginner Belly Dance Class. “Veil and Zill” This class will focus on dancing with accoutrements (veils and finger cymbals).

Dancers must bring their own accoutrements or they can be purchased at the studio on the first day of class. This (8) week class will be held on Mondays at 7pm. Coin skirts are recommended but not required. Dancers will learn short routines. Belly dancing is great for toning abs, thighs, triceps, biceps and buttocks.

Routines are sexy, fun and mildly aerobic. Call 292-9512 to pre-register.

Tumbling, ballet, hip hop, tap classes available for ages 2 through 14 in Kingsport, Johnson City, Blountville, Allandale. No registration fees or contracts. Parents observe in the classroom. For more information phone (423)288-8346 Monthly Ballroom Dance: Fourth Friday of each month at Virginia Ballroom at 300 Senior Drive Abingdon - a relaxed way to practice your skills or hone them at the lesson before the dance. Lesson 7pm, Dance 8pm - 10pm.

Alcohol and smoke free. No partner or experience necessary. A $5.00 donation to the Senior Center and a snack to share will be appreciated.

Beverages will be provided. Call 276-6234400 for more information.

Latin Dance Aerobics Class – Salsa, Cha-Cha, Swing, Samba, Merengue, Hip-Hop, Belly Dance, Pasa Doble. Loose weight, tighten and tone. Fit into that new bikini or little black dress! Learn a new dance and make new friend.

This class is an exciting and fun way to get in shape for the summer. Just $10 per dancer. No

pre-registration or partner required. Just show up! Classes are every Monday at 6pm. 321 E. Sullivan St. Kingsport. Call 292-9512 for more information.

Beginner Belly Dancing - $10 per dancer.

Mondays at 7pm. Classical, Egyptian and Tribal styles. Lean basic belly dance movements and mini routines. Dress in beautiful costumes. Fun way to tone target areas. Low impact but full body workout. Bring your friends, family and co-workers. Call Sharah for more information at 292-9512.

FREE Summer Hip-Hop High School Class – Tuesdays at 5pm. Hip-hop / cha-cha / salsa / lyrical. High school students only, no exceptions. 321 E. Sullivan St. Kingsport.

Taught by Brooklynn. Call 292-9512 for more information.

There will be Line Dance Lessons held every Tuesday at Fanatics Sports Club in the DoubleTree Hotel. Beginner lesson is at 6:30 and intermediate is at 7:30. Dance to the latest dances being done nationwide to country, pop, latin, tango and hip-hop music. No experience needed and no partner required. Located at 211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City. For more information call (423) 282-1848 or tnlinedancer@hotmail.com.

Lyrical for Children and Adults! Learn to express the lyrics of a song with movement! Children Thursdays 5-6pm, Adults Thursdays 6-7pm. Pre-registration required.

Call (423) 292-9512 for more information.

Toddler Dance Class! 18mo’s, 2’s and 3’s.

1 parent must attend with child. 10 student maximum (so hurry and reserve your child’s spot.) Learn rhythm, movement and get some socialization. Pre-registration required. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information. Saturdays 11am.

Youth Ballroom! Waltz, Rumba, Tango, ChaCha, Foxtrot, Swing and More!

Dance lessons being taught for couples and singles every Friday night at the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Center, 300 W. Mill St. in Elizabethton. Class begins at 6:30 p.am. and includes a one hour lesson and 30 minutes of practice. Cost is $10 for singles and $15 for couples. Dances includes Two-step, swing, waltz and more. You do not need a partner to attend. Call 547-6441 for more information.

Line dance lessons every Tuesday at The Doubletree Hotel, Johnson City. Beginner lessons from 6:30-7:30 and Intermediate from 7:30-8:30. $5 for one or both lessons. Learn the latest dances to Music including Country, Pop, Waltz, Tango and Swing. No partner or experience needed. For more information contact (423) 282-1848 or tnlinedancer@hotmail.com

Monthly Social Dance for couples and singles.

There will be a Social Dance held for couples, singles and line dancers on the second Saturday of each month at the Jonesborough Visitor Center. There will be a brief couples lesson and a brief line dance lesson at each event. Cost is $5 at the door and includes the lessons and the dance. Everyone is welcome. No dance experience is needed. Come and learn to dance or just enjoy watching in a friendly non-smoking atmosphere. 117 Boone St. Jonesbrough. For more information call (423) 928-2786 or email tndancer1@comcast.net

The Bellydance Company is offering a promotional free of charge into to belly dance classes.

Youth groups ages 14 to 25. Classes cover veil dancing and how to dance with finger cymbals, basic steps and combination. For additional information call (423) 202-3208.

Bellydance workshop now offering at The Broadway Café, Kingsport Saturdays from 5-6:30pm. Also, sponsoring a FREE to the

Page 36, The Loafer • September 14, 2010 public, International Language Club every Sunday from 11am – 2pm. Any level of language skills. Students, instructors & bilinguals of French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, German, Japanese, and Chinese, Tagalog, Hebrew and Latin are welcome. Call (423) 246-4666 for more information.

Shimmering Oasis! The first belly dance school in the Tri-Cities has relocated. Anna Broyles (aka Ozma) teaches American/Middle-Eastern Dance or belly dance at Shimmering Oasis. Learn the ancient form of belly dance while toning your body. An excellent core workout that engages the entire body. Classes run Beginning through Advanced. For anyone regardless of age, size or previous experience. Try the first class free! Gift certificates are available. Also, dance troupe HIPnotic: The Gypsy Queens is available to perform at local events. Contact Ozma at (276) 5919736 or email: ozmadances@bvunet.net

New Dance Class for Children at The Rose Center. The Rose Center is extremely pleased to offer new dance classes for children. We have an excellent teacher in Tammy Plasencia who will teach ages 3 and older in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern and lyrical dance as well as acrobatics.

Classes are offered Monday through Friday; contact Rose Center for the specific schedule for your child. Fees range from $30 per month for pre-school 30-minute classes to $60 for advanced student classes; substantial discounts are offered for more than one class per week. Call Rose Center at 423-581-4330 for more information and to register for class.

In the Introduction to Ballroom Dance class, students will start with the four basic movements used in ballroom dancing. Three to four dances will be taught with 3 to 5 patterns used in each dance. A native of Knoxville, Kennedy has been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 20 years and is a certified adjudicator in all five categories of competition. He has trained some of the finest teachers in the country and has worked with some of the world’s top champions.

He teaches the American style of dance. Private lessons are also available at $50 per session.

Contact Lynn directly at 865-455-6975 to schedule private lessons. Kennedy would also like to offer a call to those who would like to become dance instructors. Contact Rose Center if you are interested in learning to teach ballroom dance.

Contra Dances are held twice a month in the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone St. Live music in a smoke/alcohol free environment. For more information and schedule visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org or call David Wiley at (423) 913-3246

Mountain Empire Shag Society dances the Carolina Shag on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in the lounge at the Holiday Inn on N. Roan St., Johnson City. Free basic lessons at 8 p.m. Private lessons available by appointment. Club DJ Bigfish Calhoun plays the best in shag, r&b and beach until 10 p.m. For more information call Carl Edwards, VP, (423) 878-5877 or Larry Calhoun, DJ, (423) 239-5906.

Ballroom Dance. Learn the waltz, swing, cha-cha, rumba, salsa, tango, foxtrot and more in your choice of a group or class or private lesson. Both male and female instructors make learning easy, fun and exciting. A national champion offers Competitive and social instruction available and ongoing classes. Couples are welcome but no partner or dance experience is necessary.

Friday night parties are offered to practice what you’ve learned. Classes conveniently located in Johnson City. Group class and parties $10/person. Please contact Amanda at (423) 833-5093 for more information.

Education

Tobacco Education programs. Tobacco Education Group (TEG) offers a positive alternative to suspension from school for students in trouble because they have violated their school’s policy on tobacco use. This 8-week program motivates students to reduce tobacco use, make healthier choices, quit tobacco on their own, or join a voluntary tobacco cessation program. Tobacco Awareness Program (TAP) helps students with information, motivation, and support to quit using tobacco. Each student designs his or her approach by choosing a suitable quit date and cessation methods. Both programs, available in Lee, Scott, & Wise Counties, and the City of Norton, are fully funded by the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF), Planning District 1, and Frontier Health. For more information, call 276-523-8360.

TRACES Foster Care. Frontier Health’s TRACES Foster Care Program needs therapeutic foster parents in Northeast Tennessee. TRACES foster parents receive free training, 24-hour support services, and tax-free reimbursement for care. Caseworkers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week for emergency needs. Call 423-224-1043, for more information on becoming a foster parent.

VALUES Foster Care. Frontier Health’s VALUES Foster Care Program, a child-placing agency licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services, needs therapeutic foster parents in Lee, Wise, and Scott counties and the city of Norton. The program offers training, guidance and links to services needed to maintain foster care placement. Caseworkers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week for emergency needs. To become a foster parent, call 1-888-443-1804.

Didactic Training Requirement for the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Frontier Health and Planning District One Behavioral Health Services is presenting a 10-month comprehensive training for people seeking to fulfill the 220 hours of Didactic Training Requirement for the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Credential offered by the Virginia Department of Health Professions. The training covers all 10 required areas of study and meets from 8:30am-4:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. The CSAC and CSAC-A are the baseline credentials for individuals seeking to enter the field of addictions treatment in Virginia. For more information, call Eric Greene at (276) 523-8300.

Federation of Families: Lee, 2nd Monday 6:30 p.m. Jonesville First United Methodist Church Federation of Families meets monthly to provide support and education for families dealing with the challenges of raising a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues. The group meets the 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30. Registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, call Brenda or Theresa at 276-431-4370 or 888-443-1804. Children are welcome. Calling 888-443-1804 can provide transportation assistance.

Federation of Families: Scott, 3rd Monday 6:30 p.m. Holston View United Methodist Church Federation of Families meets monthly to provide support and education for families dealing with the challenges of raising a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues. The group meets the 3rd Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30. Registration is encouraged. For

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 37

Page 38, The Loafer • September 14, 2010 more information and to register, call Brenda or Theresa at 276-431-4370 or 888-443-1804.

Children are welcome. Calling 888-443-1804 can provide transportation assistance.

Federation of Families: Wise, 1st Monday 6:30 p.m. Presbyterian Church Federation of Families meets monthly to provide support and education for families dealing with the challenges of raising a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues. The group meets the 1st Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30. Registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, call Brenda or Theresa at 276-4314370 or 888-443-1804. Children are welcome.

Calling 888-443-1804 can provide transportation assistance.

Lee County Suicide Prevention Coalition 4th Thursday, 2 p.m. Lee County Behavioral Health Services. The Suicide Prevention Coalition, formed to raise awareness and determine the available resources in the Lee County community for suicide survivors, will meet the fourth Thursday of every month.

Anyone interested in helping support this cause, please contact Bill or Phyllis Russell at (276) 346-1641.

Moral Reconation Therapy Group, Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m. Wise County Behavioral Health Services. A Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) Group meets each Wednesday from 2-4 p.m.

The group will be ongoing and juveniles ages 13-17 may join any time. Pre-registration is required by calling Jessica Williamson at 523-8370. MRT is a group designed to help juveniles on probation or who have a criminal or substance abuse history to make good choices by doing what is right.

“Children in the Middle”. Frontier Health offers a SAMSHA Model divorce education program titled CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE. This program is a skills-based curriculum that helps parents deal with their children’s reactions to divorce. Classes are offered each month in Lee, Scott and Wise Counties. The registration fee is $15 and participants will receive a workbook, guidebook and a certificate of completion. For more information, call Tracie Johnson at 1-888-443-1804.

American Sign Language. The Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing teaches several classes in American Sign Lan-

guage, including Level I, Level II, Level III, and Level IV. When scheduled, the six-week classes are scheduled on Tuesdays at the Victory Center, Johnson City. Each Level class is $75 and will be taught by CCDHH instructors.

For more information, for a schedule, or to register, call 434-0447. The Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a division of Frontier Health and provides communication between people who are hearing and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

CCDHH is a community service center providing services under contract with Federal and State Government Agencies, Businesses, Industries, Hospitals, Service Agencies, Courts and Individuals who are in need of assistance in communicating with people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Services are available in Carter, Claibourne, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. This program is funded in part by the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Job Corps has a limited number of openings for eligible youth between the ages of 16-24 in NE Tennessee area. The program helps young people complete their high school education and obtain skills training in high demand occupations. The program has been in existence since 1964 and operates 122 full-time residential training centers throughout the country. Training will last from 6 months to 2 years + there is an opportunity for advanced education following completion. If eligible, there is no cost for this training. To obtain more information contact Patty Sausser at the Northeast Tennessee Career Center located in Johnson City at (423) 610-0222 ext. 222.

Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency’s Head Start Program is currently accepting applications 3 & 4 year old children for the 2009-20010 school year. Head Start is a comprehensive educational and nurturing program which also addresses the emotional and physical needs of each enrolled child. Children must meet the eligibility requirements of the federal income guidelines and local Policy Council standards. The Head Start program also provides services to three and four year old children with disabilities. All this is totally FREE to the family. In addition, transportation is provided except for the two Full Day/Full Year classes. Slots are limited. Apply today.

For more information about an application or qualifications call Melissa Roark at (423) 7647365 or come by 703 Florida Ave. Bristol, TN.

Venture Crew 1861 now seeking young men and women between the ages of 15 and 21 who enjoy scouting and outdoor activities but want an added twist of adventure and living history. VC 1861 is a co-ed Venture scout group portraying civilians and military, Confederate and Federal, from the Civil War. We do living history in our area and re-enactment’s at major battlefield sites in other states. Interested in joining or want more information? E-mail us at venture_1861@yahoo.com with your name, age, address and telephone # and we will get back with you with more information.

Patricia Freedman Literacy Academy offers help with GED preparation, remedial reading and math, English as a second language, English for Speakers of Other Languages, military entrance test/ASVAB, and college entrance exams. The Literacy Academy also offers computer classes for Windows, Internet Usage, Basic Excel, keyboarding, resume writing, and assistance filing for financial aid. There is no charge for this assistance, but donations are always appreciated. For more information, call (276) 645-8790. Patricia Freedman Literacy Academy is located at 701 Goode St. inside the Bristol Public open Mon-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

State of Franklin Homeschoolers (SOFH) has several regular activities each month for area homeschoolers, as well as occasional field trips and other opportunities. SOFH is an inclusive group open to ALL homeschoolers regardless of race, religion, creed or educational philosophy. For more information contact Michelle at (423) 538-6159.

Toastmasters: Learn to develop effective communication and leadership skills! Participate in a self-paced program designed to improve your speaking, listening and thinking. The Mission of Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. Wednesday Orators Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday from 12:05-1 p.m. at the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center on Wilcox Drive in Kingsport. For more information, contact Kathy Padgett at (423) 247-7983 or email at kpadgett@eastman.com.

Toastmasters: Learn to develop effective communication and leadership skills! Participate in a self-paced program designed to improve your speaking, listening and thinking. The Mission of Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. Twin City Toastmasters Club meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 5:45-6:45 p.m. at the Central Christian Church located at 424 Melrose St. in Bristol, TN. For more information contact Wanda Earp at (423) 764-2288 or email at wandaearp@ chartertn.net.

YMCA Elementary After School Care.

Kingsport YMCA is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Elementary Age After School Child Care Program in the following schools: Jackson, Kennedy, Lincoln, Jefferson, Rock Spring, Indian Spring, Kingsley, Miller Perry, Holston and Sullivan.

For further information, please call the YMCA office at (423) 247-9622.

Gardening

Plant Swap. Meeting at Mize Farm & Garden, 929 W. Watauga Ave. JC. The first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. Trade plants/seeds you have in excess for something you don’t have.

Have fun and meet new friends. For information call Sarita at (423) 434-1800.

Health/Fitness

Color My World Healthy classes at Carver.

Come and learn how you can keep a healthy heart after by-pass, stent, or other cardiac surgery. The class will be taught by members of “Mended Heart”, an American Heart Association affiliated group. Join us Tuesday morning, 10:00am – 12:00 noon Feb. 9th at Carver Recreation Center, 322 W. Watauga Ave. Johnson City. Space is limited so call and reserve your seat. For more information call (423) 461-8830.

An introduction to Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure. The Neck & Shoulder release. 3rd Mondays of the month from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Waterfalls of Wellness Healing Center. 739 Bluff City Hwy, Bristol.

An introduction to Free Your Voice – Free Your Self. 3rd Tuesdays of the month. 6:30pm8:30pm. Kaleo Wheeler (423) 202-3862.

Gentle Flow Yoga Classes. Tuesday evenings from 7:15-8:15pm at Piney Flats United Methodist Church (fellowship hall). Suitable for all levels of students. Please bring your own mat and blanket. Only $5.00. Call Wendy @ (423) 220-0552 for more information.

Come and learn how you can take simple and affordable steps to improve the health and quality of your life. This series of workshops will present a variety of ways to improve your personal health, the health of your home, manage stress, deal with change, and more. The workshops will be held every 4th. Thursday of the month starting at 7pm. at Wellness Way Chiropractic: 103 Keystone Dr. in Blountville.

Space is limited so call and reserve your seat. For further information please call 423646-4038 or email us at WillVanInwagen@ gmail.com Aikido in Johnson City! Classes held Mon and Thurs in downtown Johnson City. 103 W Market St. All skill levels welcome. Traditional Hombu style. Directions and more information at www.jcaikido.com Roller Derby – Are you female, over 18, and need to get out some aggression? Come try roller derby! Strap on some skates and join one of the fastest growing competitive sports in the nation. The Little City Roller Girls are currently seeking new skaters and referees to expand their roster. No previous experience or special skill sets necessary. Women of all shapes and sizes welcome! Men can join in on the fun as referees. Stop by our practices held every Wed 6:30-8:30pm and every Sun 12-2pm

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 39 at the Johnson City Family Skate Center to get more info. The JCFSC is located at 930 W Watauga Ave at the corner of State of Franklin and Watauga. Check us out on the web at www. littlecityrollergirls.com ZUMBA – The hot new aerobic workout.

Zumba is inspired by Latin dance and music, Zumba uses a variety of styles in its routines, including cumbia, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, mambo, rumba, flamenco, and calypso and Salsaton. Music selections include both fast and slow rhythms to help tone and sculpt the body. Anyone can do it..beginners to advanced. Only $7 per class Mondays & Wednesdays at The Muscle Factory, 2318 Buffalo Rd. Johnson City. For more information call (423) 929-7471.

Yoga Classes – Iyengar Inspired yoga classes offered at New Paradigm Health Center, 113 E. Unaka Ave. Johnson City on Fridays at noon and Saturday s from 9-10:30am. Call (423) 928-9394 for details.

Basics of Belly Dance! Ladies, get a jump start on that New Year’s resolution! All ages, sizes, fitness levels. Tone your body and boost selfesteem through tasteful Middle Eastern dance movements. Classes held every Monday, 6-7 P.M. at the Princeton Arts Center (2516 Oakland Ave.). Cost is just $5 per session. Call PAC at (423) 283-5800 for info or to sign up. Wear flexible clothing and join the fun!

Mountain Yoga, inside Mullins Shaolin Kung Fu on Springbrook St. in JC, offers yoga classes. Class times are Monday s & Wednesday s at noon and Tuesday s & Thursday s at 6:30am. First class is free. After that, there is a $10 drop-in fee, or $50 for a month of unlimited classes. Contact Jennifer Chisam at (423) 262-9551.

Learn to maintain a healthy weight naturally.

Programs individually crafted by holistic nutrition and healthy living consultant Marie Browning. Sessions provide the information, guidance and support your need to improve your own health and well being. For information call (423) 367-1396 or visit www. healthiersolutionsbymarie.com Learn to maintain a healthy weight naturally.

Programs individually crafted by holistic nutrition and healthy living consultant Marie Browning. Sessions provide the information, guidance and support you need to improve your own health and well being. For information call (423) 367-1396 or visit www.healthiersolutionsbymarie.com

Take Yoga with an experienced Yoga Teacher and leave class feeling calm and refreshed.

Yoga helps with pain management, Fibromalgia, Back problems, Stress management, and general well being. Stretch your body and relax your mind. Certified with Asheville School of Yoga. Beginner and advanced classes available. Call (423) 384-6440 for times and locations.

Yoga-Pilates classes on Tuesday and Thursday s at 6:30pm at Science Hill ALC. Call (423) 434-0206 ext. 1 to pre-register.

Pilates on the ball class at Breastfeeding Essentials. Monday nights at 5:30pm. Stroller Fitness classes Wed. & Fri. at 9am. Meet at Warriors. $5 per class. Call Lorie for more information at (423) 299-4014.

Aikido – Traditional Aikido. Increase your balance and center, refine your movements, and enjoy a vigorous practice. Classes taught on Tues. & Thurs. Dojo is in downtown Johnson City above Albert’s Pawn. ASU affiliated. All affiliations, ranks, and skill levels are welcome.

Adult classes only. Call (423) 232-9600 for more information.

Karate/Yoga/Tai Chi for mind, body conditioning. $25/mo or $5/drop in. Call (423) 335-3903 for more information.

Learn the ancient form of belly dance while toning your body. An excellent core workout that engages the abdominals, legs, arms, shoulders and back. Try the first class for free! For any woman regardless of age, size or previous experience. Beginning through advanced. Gift certificates are available! Also, dance troupe Gypsy Queens is available to perform at local events. Contact Ozma at (276) 591-9736 or email: ozmadances@bvunet.net Attend a free workshop that will help you to create greater levels of health and wellbeing in your life. For more information call Will at (423) 646-4038.

American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearancerelated side effects of cancer treatments. Class will be held at Wellmont Outpatient Center, 130 W. Stone Dr. Kingsport from 12pm-2pm the first Monday of each month, at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, 1420 Tusculum Blvd.

Greeneville from 10am-2pm the second Monday of each month and at American Cancer Society, 508 Princeton Rd. Johnson City from 1pm-3pm the third Monday of each

Page 40, The Loafer • September 14, 2010 month. Please contact 1-800-ACS-2345 for more information.

Water Aerobics. Tired of not having the energy to function during the day? Need a way to relieve stress? Want to be fit? Reduced your blood pressure? Increase muscular strength and endurance? Have a healthier, stronger heart? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, the water aerobics program at Elizabethton High School is for you. Beginner to advanced.

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00pm (water walking) and 6:30-7:30pm (structured class) $3 per session. Dressing rooms available.

Doors open 15 minutes prior to class. Lifeguard on duty. For more information contact Cindy Gober at (423) 474-0140 The Kingsport Diabetes Association meets the second Tuesday of each month at Indian Path Hospital Bldg 2002, 2nd floor, Room #203 across from the emergency room. All are welcome. The KDA helps diabetics, parents of diabetics and their families to deal better with the serious disease of diabetes. This help comes in the various forms of informative meetings, events and personal support. For more information call Jim Smallwood at (423) 288-4576.

Pilate’s Classes. Beginning Pilate’s mat classes offered Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Wear comfortable clothing, mats are supplied or bring your own. 112 W. Main St. Kingsport, TN. For additional information call (423) 392-4325.

Masters Swimming Program in Johnson City.

Certified coach tailors the program to meet each participant’s needs and abilities. Practices are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6-7 a.m. For further information, contact Coach Chris Coraggio at (423) 833-5595.

Want to quit smoking? Lose weight? Reduce Stress? Improve your performance at school, work or sports? Healing Energies can help you meet your goals through Hypnosis. Please five us a call if you want to change your life.

(423) 257-3521.

The Johnson City Judo Club offers beginning classes in the sport of Judo for adults only at Girls, Inc. every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Classes are $2 per session. You will need to purchase a uniform. Visit www.johnsoncityjudo.com for more information, or call Brian Rowe at (423) 439-2047 or Bill Perkins at (423) 975-0171,

We are a non-profit organization.

Christian Life Center at Munsey; indoor walking track, exercise room (includes Body Solid Weight Machine, Nordic track/elliptical cross-trainer, treadmill, stepper, rowing machines, stationary bike, etc.) Annual Fees: $25 - adults; $15 - youth/college. Also offered (some additional fees): Tai Chi, Scottish Country Dancing, Volleyball, Badminton, Yoga, Basketball, Softball, Ballroom Dance Lessons/Dances, Upward Basketball. Open Daily, Mon-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m; closes at 4pm on Fridays. Call for additional information (423) 461-8070 ext. 213.

The YWCA Fitness Spa invites members and non-members to participate in our Group Fitness Classes at our new 106 State St. facility.

We are offering both Classic and Specialty Classes. All classes are appropriate for beginners. Please call (423) 968-9444 for more details and scheduling.

“Secure Plus Medicare Seminars” are held every Monday at the Slater Community Center from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. by John Deere Health Care. Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

Strength Training is offered on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 9 a.m. for adults 55+ at the Slater Community Center. Becky Harris is the instructor. Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

Seniorcise for adults 55+ is held Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. at the Slater Community Center. Shirlene Coffey and Anna Horne are the instructors. Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

found healing effects of the Reiki System of Natural Healing. Clinic is open to the public, free of charge, 1st and 3rd Monday evenings, 7-9 p.m. Classes are held monthly for first and second degrees. For information and appointments, call Reiki Master/teacher, Sylvia Lagergren, (423) 928-0747.

T.O.P.S. The Take Off Pounds Sensibly Club meets every Monday at 9:45 a.m. at the Harmony Baptist Church Fellowship hall. For more information call (423) 349-7239.

Science of Deliberate Creation study group.

Meets each Wed. night at 7pm to listen to and discuss the “Abraham” tapes. Contact Dan at jcmassagetherapist@yahoo.com or (423) 741-1566.

Meetings

Interested in amateur (HAM) radio or are you a ham that’s looking for a local club? Come visit Johnson City Amateur Radio Association at their monthly club meeting held at the North Side Hospital on every third Tuesday at 7pm in Johnson City. For more information, please visit www.jcara.org or call Dick, N4ARO, at (423) 929-1256.

Chanting Circles for Healing and Peace meets the 2nd & 4th Friday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm at Waterfalls of Wellness Healing Center, 739 Bluff City Hwy. Bristol. For more information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) 202-3862 Wolf Hills Fan Club is a gathering for seniors, 60 plus, with a Free lunch, starting at 10am at Abingdon Senior Center. For information, please contact (276) 628-5859.

Therapeutic Touch/Energy Healing. Learn to use bioenergies to heal you and others. Limited size group for intensive learning experience.

No experience needed, only an open mind and heart Call Liza (423) 247-6765.

Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club starts at 9:00am on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Breakfast, fellowship, and so much more at the Abingdon Senior Center, 300 Senior Dr. Abingdon, VA. For information, please contact (276) 628-5859.

Aerobic classes. Held at Johnson City Seniors’ Center on Mon, Wed, & Fri. from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Teachers provided by students at ETSU. Classes are $1. per class. For info. Call (423) 434-6237

The Quilting Club meets every Tuesday at 9:30am at the Abingdon Senior Center. You can learn, work on existing projects, or help with a community project. For information, please contact (276) 628-5859.

Reiki Clinic and Classes. Experience the pro-

Law enforcement officers from the area recent-

ly organized a Fraternal Order of Police Lodge based in Erwin, TN. The name of the Lodge is Tennessee Unaka Lodge #93. The Fraternal Order of Police started in Pittsburgh, PA in 1915 with 23 members. Today the organization has over 2100 Lodges with 325,000 members.

Unaka Lodge is the newest lodge in Tennessee and was started by Dan Moeser, an 18 year veteran of the National FOP organization and a retired federal law enforcement officer. He has also worked 5 years with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office. In 1998 Moeser also started a local Chapter of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Law Enforcement Club which is comprised of active and retired law enforcement officers who own and ride a motorcycle. That club presently has over 50 members. The FOP organization has a Mission Statement which in part encourages fraternal, educational, charitable and social activities among law enforcement officers. It strives to cultivate a spirit of mutual helpfulness among members and the people they serve with a goal to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession and establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life and property.

Membership in the Unaka Lodge is open to all certified full time law enforcement officers and those retired from full time law enforcement duties, regardless of where they work or have worked in the past. Presently the Lodge has 20 members and applications are being processed for additional members. Meetings are held at the Erwin police department on the fourth Thursday of the month. Anyone interested in joining the Unaka Lodge may contact Dan Moeser at 423-232-8825.

More information about the National and TN State FOP is available at www.tnstatefop.com.

The General William Campbell chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution meets on alternating months at the Abingdon Senior Citizen’s Center located at 300 Senior Drive just off White’s Mill Road.

The meetings begin at 11:30 on the third Saturday of Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, and Dec. Programs are presented primarily on historical subjects by interesting and informed guest speakers.

Interested men are invited along with their friends to visit and explore membership in this organization which is dedicated to promoting education of America’s Heritage and the values esteemed by the founding fathers of our Nation. For further information please contact Joe Alexander at 276-494-6079 or joealexander@ bvunet.net, or Jack Butterworth at jbutter208@

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 41

eCharter.net 423-652-2240, or Sydney Wike at e423-878-3474 or sidneywike@embarqmail.net l nA monthly women’s circle, 4th Wednesday of nthe month at 7pm. Come together, share stories .and discover commonality with other women. eThis Circle of Women’s Voices gives women rthe opportunity to come together in commuanity to help find our strength, independence, sself-esteem, and satisfaction with ourselves yand who we are. Through talk story, informal aand interactive dialogue, we rediscover our eown stories and realize our commonality. For fmore information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) o926-1648 or www.kaleowheeler.com y nNew Moon Gatherings. As the moon regularly -moves through its phases and the year moves ethrough the seasons, so human life has cycles tand phases. This is an opportunity to come ltogether in sacred space and celebration to eexperience the lunar cycle in action – setting your intentions for what we choose to create hduring this particular month and phase. For emore information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) .926-1648 or www.kaleowheeler.com l d tEx-Pats of Great Britain and Ireland are meeteing the 1st Saturday of each month from 6:3007pm at The Celtic Cupboard in Jonesborough. dCome and meet others from your homeland. tRefreshments served. Call (423) 948-9076 for hmore information. d nThe Newcomers Club of Kingsport is a women’s club that provides a fun, friendly, informal venue for both current residents and Nnew residents to gather for social activities .and to meet others in the community. Meeteings of the Newcomers Club of Kingsport nare generally held on the 2nd Tuesday of each emonth, Sept. through May, at the MeadowView tMarriot Resort and Convention Center, 1901 .MeadowView Dr. Kingsport at 11:00am. The -meetings will feature a social half hour, a scold buffet lunch for $11, a guest speaker, and sdiscussion of events and activities in the great .Kingsport area. Log onto www.newcomerrsclubofkingsport.com for more details. s gThe Twin City Photo Club of Bristol conducts stheir monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of -each month at the meeting room of Bristol eChamber of Commerce, corner of State and @Volunteer/Commonwealth streets. Anyone @interested in photography at any skill level is welcome to attend the meetings. TCPC has a monthly “Photo Safari” for location photography and are organizing the inaugural Rhythm & Roots Photography Contest. For more information, please call (423) 946-4132 Same-Sex Fellowship is an alliance of men 30 and older. This is a newly formed group which will engage in bi-monthly social activities with emphasis on strengthening a social support system. For more information email Shayne at doforothers101@yahoo.com Friends of Nature. We are now looking for new members to come join us in promoting both parks and nature programs. Meetings are held every 3rd Tuesday each month at Wing Deer Park. Please join us in the boardroom, behind the main office at 6pm. If you have any questions, contact Brad Jones at (423) 283-5821 or email chjwdp2@johnsoncitytn.org The Happy Hillbillies Volkswagen Club, a newly formed club for all VW enthusiasts in the Tri Cities area, are meeting each second Saturday of the month to caravan to a local eatery and discuss events for Volkswagens.

We welcome anyone who would like to come meet with us, learn more about our club and fellowship. Call for meeting places and times or for more information at (423) 743-0341 or (423) 735-2577.

Overmountain Sam’s club camps once a month and is looking for new members. We enjoy the outdoors, fishing, cookouts, traveling and meeting fellow campers. Contact Ron Hughes

at (423) 928-1919 or John Williams at (423) 422-6287 for further information Center for Light and Healing invites you to attend their “Opening to the Miracles” Natural Healing Group from 12 to 6 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, except on holidays. Join us for a wonderful afternoon of meditation, healing, enlightenment, and fellowship! When healers come together with the same intent, our collective energy is increased manifold. We are delighted to have more than two dozen healers from our area working together, and the healing energy of our group is simply amazing! Group healing is a powerful way to manifest miracles! If you are an experienced healer or simply have an interest in healing yourself or others, join us as we open to the miracles! We meet at the Round Table Conference Center, 1104 Tusculum Blvd., in Greenville, on a love-offering basis.

For further details on our group, services, or other activities sponsored by the Center for Light and Healing, visit our website at www. centerforlightandhealing.com or call (423) 638-2461.

Beaver Creek Storytelling now meets at Java J’s the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. with storytelling program at 7:30 p.m.

Contact Mimi Rockwell at (276) 669-8358 or appalachianstory@aol.com Wine Lovers in the Tri-Cities area. The TriWine Bunch, a non-profit group of friendly folks who share the love of wine, food, and good friends is heading into its 6th year. Wine tastings, wine dinners, charitable events with wine and food themes are regularly held in the Johnson City area. Please visit our website, click on the buttons and become more familiar with us, and if you are interested in attending our events, just send an email to the address given on the website. www.sites.google.com/ site/triwinebunch “The ARC, Alternate Realities Center”, is a internationally recognized research and membership organization dedicated to the philosophical and scientifc study of paranormal phenomena including Ghosts and Haunted Places, Bigfoot, UFOs - or Unidentified Flying Objects, Alien Abduction, Psychic Abilities as well as how these extraordinary experiences affect the human psyche. The ARC staff of Certified Ghost Hunters perform paranormal investigations of historic structures for the levels of spiritual presence. We offer monthly special interest group meetings to discuss personal experiences and hear about those of others. Local meeting times and locations may vary. In addition, through our public awareness tour company - Appalachian GhostWalks we offer guided haunted history tours of the Historic Districts throughout our region and these operate nightly, year round. Our tours

showcase the rich history and heritage of the Appalachian Mountains dating back to the Cherokee occupation of the area through the Frontier, Revolutionary, and Civil War eras of our past. Ten percent of our annual profits go to support Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Please visit our website at www.AppalachianGhostWalks.com for more information, or call (423) 743-WALK (9255) to schedule one of our haunted historic walking tours, or attend one of our local monthly group meetings.

The Moms Club of Bristol TN/VA Chapter Moms offering moms support. Are you a stayat-home mom or just new to the area? Come on and join the fun and meet other moms just like you - playgroups, park days, field trips, community service and social MOMS night out are some of the events we do monthly. For more info call Mary Johnson at (423) 391-8818 or Veronica Hurley at (423) 383-5473 The Tri-Cities Miata Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm, alternating between Ryan’s Steakhouse in Johnson City and The Golden Corral in Kingsport, TN. Club drives take place the third Saturday of each month. Check www.tri-citiesmiataclub. com for details.

The Kingsport Gems and Minerals Society meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Normally, the meeting place is in the Eastman Toy F. Reid Employee Center, room 219.

Some meetings will be in member’s homes to see their collections. Show and Tell will begin at 6:30pm followed by a seminar. Bring things you want to show off or get help identifying. If you are interested in gems and minerals, come join us! Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. Contact Jim or Anne Small at (423) 357-1509 for more information.

The Iris Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association meets the second Tuesday of every month at 5:30pm. Meetings are usually held at Peerless Restaurant, 2531 N. Roan St. Johnson City. ABWA offers great networking opportunities for professional businesswomen. Come join us for friendship and community involvement. For more information, please call Barbara Barfield (423) 895-1726 The Newcomers Club of Johnson City meets at The Johnson City Country Club, 1901 E. Unaka Ave. on the third Thursday of every month. Social time begins at 10:30 a.m., and business meeting at 11 a.m. A buffet lunch, at the cost of just $14 all-inclusive, will follow.

For luncheon reservations, please contact Bonnie Tuttle at (423) 477-3646. If you are interested in joining The Newcomers Club, contact Benita Turner at (423) 283-7217 or (423) 202-1679.

Page 42, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Women Social Group meets every Thursday at Hibbert Davis Coffee Gallery at 9:30 a.m.

1459 E. Center St. Kingsport. (423) 245-0443.

Women, come and join us and learn to play mahjongg.

Voluntary Simplicity group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 136 Bob Jobe Rd. in Gray. The purpose of the group is to motivate individuals to examine and transform personal values and habits, to accept responsibility for the Earth, and to act on that commitment. For directions or more info, call (423) 349-6119 or email simpleintn@yahoo.com

Tennessee Right To Life is the state’s oldest and largest pro-life advocacy organization.

We are a non-profit, non-sectarian, volunteerbased organization affiliated with the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, D.C. Local chapter serves all counties of Northeast Tennessee. Tennessee Right To Life is an advocate for protection of human life through educational outreach, protective legislation and the development of an active grassroots movement statewide. Members of Tennessee Right To Life assist in providing direct and tangible resources to women and families facing difficulty or unexpected pregnancies. For more information on what you can do to participate or to attend our meetings call (423) 282-9621.

Lesbifriends: a great group of women, 40+ years, who get together for various events, including parties, dinners, hiking, atving, kayaking, games, golfing, and just hanging out.

Come join the laughter, fun and support. Call (423) 753-4364 and ask for Carol.

For Love of Words, a writers group meets the third Thursday of each month at Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery, 1459 E. Center St. Kingsport at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in writing is welcome to attend. For more information call Donna (423) 245-4711.

Sullivan County Genealogical Society meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Sullivan County Archives beside the courthouse in Blountville. Those researching ancestors from any area are welcome. Call (423) 323-1477 or www.scgs-tn.org SEEKING TRI-CITIES PARROTHEADS!!

The Hillbilly Parrot Head Club of the TriCities TN/VA invites all interested persons who would love to “Party With A Purpose” to join in on the fun each month. Meeting dates, events, and times are always subject to change. For up to date event/ meetings schedule, visit us online www.hillbillyphc.com OR email hbphc@yahoo.com. Our club supports several local charity & environmental causes while occasionally living the life that Jimmy Buffet sings about.”

State Line All Scalers Model Railroaders Club meets the second Saturday of every month.

Please contact Richard Armstrong for locations and time, (423) 538-6578.

WAND. Tri-Cities Chapter now forming!

Tri-Cities WAND (Women’s Action for New Directions) is a part of a grassroots organization working to empower women to act politically to reduce militarism and violence, and to redirect excessive military resources toward human and environmental needs on both the local and national levels. Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at the Princeton Arts Center, 2516 Oakland Ave in Johnson City. For information or directions, please call Wendy at (423) 926-5116.

What is Altrusa? It is an international organization of business & professional women and men who want to make a difference in their community. While it was first organized in Nashville in 1917, it is far from being an old fashioned ladies group.” The Johnson City club is involved with the Elizabethton Emergency Child Shelter, the International Students at ETSU, and scholarships for

women improving their lives by returning to school after being out in the work force.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. For further information call Susan Miller at (423) 833-3449 or email susanalbromiller@yahoo.com Kingsport Bicycle Association has rides year round. Those interested in this social/touring club can call 239-4406 or link to www.kba. tripod.com.

Christian Motorcyclists Association. Rays of the Son meets the 1st Saturday of the month at Mama’s House Buffet, 2608 N. John B. Dennis Hwy, Kingsport (across from North Highschool). Guests welcome. Call (423) 239-4921.

Book Review Group meets from Noon-1 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center, Panhellenic Hall, basement suite 2 (ETSU campus).

Participants in this Book Review Group for women at ETSU discuss published works by and about women. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch. Regular meetings are planned for the third Wednesday of each month. For more information, call the Women’s Resource Center, (423) 439-7847.

Tri-Cities Metaphysical Study Group meets each Thursday at Holston Valley Unitarian Church, Interstate 26, Eastern Star Exit #10, Gray, TN. TMSG is a group dedicated to love, peace and wisdom and provides a place to share information for those interested in new age sciences. For information call Peggy at (423) 477-3339.

The First Tennessee Regional Group of the Mustang Club of America meets the fourth Thursday of each month excluding November and December at 7 p.m. at Mama’s House Buffet, 2608 N. John B. Dennis Hwy. Kingsport, TN. Open to all Mustang enthusiasts. Call (423) 323-8345.

The Phoenix Group plastic modelers. Meetings held the 1st Thursday of each month in Bristol,

TN at 7p.m. Modelers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. Workshops available.

For additional information, please contact Jerry Hughson at (423) 968-9699.

Mental Health Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network meets at 10:30 a.m. on the 4th Tuesday of every month at Boone’s Creek Christian Church, 305 Boone’s Creek Rd. in Johnson City.

The network is a grassroots collaboration of Tennesseans and organizations working to eliminate the stigma of suicide, educate the community about the warning signs of suicide, and ultimately reduce the rate of suicide in our state. For more information, contact Harold Leonard at (423) 857-5231.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Johnson City affiliate meets on the second Thursday at 7 p.m. each month at Harrison Christian Church, 2517 Browns Mill Rd. Johnson City.

For information call (423) 282-0676 or (423) 543-4315.

Does it feel as if life is too much to handle?

Do memories keep you locked in the past not letting you move forward? Are you questioning your spiritual beliefs wondering just where you fit in? Healing Energies can assist you in reducing your stress, healing past events, and finding answers to your questions. Please give us a call if you want to change your life.

(423) 257-3521.

YWCA girls after School Program. The YWCA girls after school program will meet after school, Monday through Friday from 2:30 ñ 6:30pm.This program is designed to meet the individual needs of each girl to assist her in maintaining good grades in school, to increase her knowledge in technology and introduce her to potential career choices. The State of Tennessee Department of Education funds the YWCA girls after school program.

Girls who participate in this new innovative program are selected through the Bristol Tennessee City Schools by referrals (only) from

the School Counselors. Visit our website@ www.ywcabristol.org or for more information call for details @ (423) 968-9444.

Tennessee Mental Health Consumers’ Association (TMHCA) is a statewide advocacy and education organization for mental health consumers. For more information please call toll free (888) 539-0393.

Problem solving. Learn how to solve problems in life and create success in daily living. Call (423) 246-3805 or (423) 246-5149.

The Depression/Bipolar Group of Bristol VA/ TN meets each Fridays from 1-3 p.m. in the meeting room of the Bristol Public Library, 701 Goode St. Room 22 ground floor. If you need to arrive later than 1 p.m., or leave earlier that 3 p.m., that’s OK. This is a meeting only of people suffering from these illnesses, and not for family members or others, although anyone may make a referral. All names, and any other information, are kept strictly confidential.

Attention high school and college students: Do you want to earn recognition towards scholarships, or build up your resume? You can, as a Care Companion or Hotline Worker at The Crisis Center. Be a part of an agency that’s been helping neighbors for over 30 years. You can even volunteer from home! For more information contact Darlene at (276) 466-2218. The Crisis Center serves Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia as well as several national hotlines. Be a part of our volunteer team!

Post Abortion Women’s Group. For women struggling with a past abortion. Group meets weekly at the Crisis Pregnancy Center and provides in-depth discussion, spiritual help and support. Services are free and confidentiality is respected. Group participants will decide day and time of meetings. For more information call (423) 968-4673.

CONTACT. Troubled? Need someone to talk to? Someone will listen and talk to you about

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 43

Page 44, The Loafer • September 14, 2010 any problem at all. Call CONTACT confidential. Dial (423) 926-0144.

Adult Children of Alcoholics. Meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Princeton Rd. in JC. For more information call (423) 926-0144.

Grief counseling. By Medical Field professional. Modest fees for individuals by Parish Nurse (RN) Call (423) 753-6182.

Music

Singer for former show band needs musicians. Bass, Key Board, Guitar, Ect. To appear in up coming movie. Serious inquiries only. Contact. Earl 423-232-1938, 423-737-1162.

Female Back Up Singer Needed For Corporate Band. Must be able to sing soprano harmonies, move well on stage, have positive attitude, and be available for weekend gigs. For more info call (423)483-8001 Girls Vocals needed for a girls band. No instruments needed. Top 40’s and 80”s songs. Please contact (423) 202-3208.

Experienced keyboard looking for funky drummer with good r & b and jazz chops. Needed immediately for bookings.

Funk, jazz, disco, rock. Experienced keyboard looking for funky drummer with good r & b and jazz chops. Needed immediately for bookings. Funk, jazz, disco, rock apply to bass37615@yahoo.com.

Appalachian Express Men’s A Cappela Chorus. The Appalachian Express Men’s A cappella Chorus meets each Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Suite 203, Building 2002, at the Indian Path Medical Complex, Kingsport. Visitors and prospective members are welcome. Call 423-384-9992.

Seeking Male vocal talent for on-going studio session work located in Bristol, TN. We seek top notch Nashville calibre vocal talent, country, country cross-over a plus, but not limited to. Permanent, steady part time contract work for the right exceptionally talented individual. (423) 878-3535 e-mail: studiocat2@yahoo.com Nashville Label, looking for lead guitar player for artist. Contact (423) 534-3909.

Lead Guitarist looking to join/form band. Mix of classic and new rock and blues. Plenty of experience and equipment.

Call Wayne at (423) 737-8724.

Vanderbilt performance major offering affordable flute and piccolo lessons for the summer. 11+ years of experience.

Call (423) 341-1872.

Band in need of guitar player and keyboardist for local hot cover band with booked gigs. Must have experience, work ethic, good attitude, and be on time. Weeknight rehearsals and weekend gigs possible at any time. Call (423) 833-8178

A new Beginning Guitar class will start at Rose Center on Saturdays .The group class meets from 11 AM to 12 PM each Saturday for ten weeks. Beginning Guitar will cover all the basics to lead into any style of playing. Basic chords, strums, notation reading, and basic music reading will be taught as well as physical technique - how your hands work to play guitar. Craig Carroll is the instructor for this class. The fee is $50 for the 10-week course. Students must provide their own guitar and will purchase a chord chart and music book from the instructor at a cost under $15. Group size is limited to ten students. Call Rose Center at (423) 581-4330 or 586-6205 for more information or to pre register.

New Tri-Cities Contemporary Christian band is looking for a Guitarist and a Keyboardist. E-mail or call for more information. (423) 202-8416, stclowe@yahoo.com.

Christian Musician available. Experienced with church music. I play piano, organ & direct church choirs. Call Susan at (423) 542-2911.

The Zonkers, a dynamic 4-piece group featuring sax, keyboards, Tropical rock, Buffet, classic saxophone rock, “limbo rock”. “We’re Bonkers for Zonkers” available for all events both corporate and private. Contact Zane Wooten at (423) -5554 or www.thezonkers.net Keyboard Player available. 30+ years professional experience. I play all styles/good references. Call Bruce at (423) 323-9378 Have an open night on your entertainment calendar? Don’t worry at all, call “Wail’n Perry Show. The live music specialist with the lowest rates! Free Audition/CD (276) 646-3680 The Civic Chorale is an auditioned volunteer choir drawing its members from throughout the Tri-Cities region. The choir offers a concert season featuring a variety of musical styles at area venues. Audition information, concert schedules, and repertoire listings can be found at www.thecivicchorale.org or contact the conductor, David Hendrickson at conductordavid@embarqmail.com or call (423) 247-1147.

Drummer – 40 years experience playing many styles-seeks R & B, Funk, Jazz type gig. Also do BG vocals and play congas/bongos. Call Bob at (423) 946-5294

Honky Tonk Piano, B3-style keyboard player needed to fill the fourth spot of a new local Original/Rock band. Please, professional players only! Please call (423) 943-5552 for an audition and more information.

With a voice like that, you should be singing! Singer’s Network connects singers with ensembles and venues for performance. Madrigals, Classic 40’s & 50’s, Vocal Jazz, Celtic, Americana and beyond – Celebrate the human voice and the gift of song. (423) 542-9799 or rg2sing@yahoo.com Wanted: Lead Guitarist w/ experience to join working Rock-n-Roll cover band. Background vocals a plus. Contact J.R. at (423) 677-3702 Seeking Saxophonist and vocalist for Tri-Cities jazz ensemble. Call (423) 483-3243.

Glenn Body and The Blues Cruzers, a top notch pro styled band plays the best of 50’s, 60’s, Motown soul, R & B, Jazz style, ‘70s funk, classic rock and original music for any event. We play for private parties, company parties, special events, nightclubs, car shows, reunions, country clubs, etc. Do you like good music ya, ya? Call (276) 782-1842 Up-to-date information about Drum circles in the Tri-Cities area is available online at www.FairyDrum.com or by emailing Tiffany@FairyDrum.com.

Need Keyboard Player for 4 to 6 person Jazz Band. Call Chuck McVey (423) 245-6932.

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 45

BOOK

Continued from page 46

of reading have to be confined to paper and ink? Isn’t the goal, after all, just to encourage people to read?

For an interesting little meditation on how books have come to be defined in this digital age, go to YouTube and search It’s A Book, Lane Smith and watch a thought-provoking little video about a new children’s book about books. In this video, a monkey-like creature is talking to a bunny-like creature about books. When shown an actual book, the bunny asks a series of questions: “Do you scroll down?,” “Can you blog with it?,” “Can it tweet?,” “Can it text?,” “Does it have Wi-Fi?,” and “Does it need a password?”. After he lets the bunny hold the book, the monkey offers to let the bunny keep it as long as he/she wishes. Without hesitating, the bunny replies, “Don’t worry, I’ll charge it up when I’m done.”

Some of the comments made on the video’s web page (found on techland.com) are enlightening. One person comments about the “irony of creating an animated video to be shown, tweeted about, linked to, etc. on the internet to promote a book about books is slightly mindblowing.” Another also points out the irony by observing, “When I first read this story a few days ago, I didn’t know what to think. Obviously the author hasn’t heard of all the tweens staying up and reading Harry Potter and Twilight. I showed the video to my 6 yr. old son, and he asked me to request the book from the library so that he can read it. I get what the author is getting at here, but it is also ironic that we had to read about this book on the Internet...”

Being immersed in pop culture as I am - and as you are too - I don’t see much irony in this. To me, it’s a perfect example of the culture in which we live and breathe. Some might label this culture “postmodern” or some other useless term, but I just call it “Now.” This is where we live, and no purpose is served in creating some sort of fantasy about “the good old days” and mourning their loss. Why mourn something that probably never existed? As Carly Simon sang “back in the day” (another useless and over-used term), “These are the good old days.” Now excuse me while I go read something, somewhere, somehow.

See you in some medium - analog or digital - next week. And, regardless of whether you prefer turning pages or scrolling down (or pressing back and forward buttons), I appreciate your taking the time to visit Kelly’s Place.

Page 46, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Sven Birkerts, in his justly famous 1994 diatribe against the intrusion of electronic media into the lives of those who prefer reading books the old-fashioned way - one page at a time - compared the coming of the electronic book to the devil himself, albeit a devil dressed in modern clothing and more beguiling and deceiving than ever.

“The devil no longer moves about on cloven hooves, reeking of brimstone,” warned Birkerts at a time that now seems so very long ago. “He is an affable, efficient fellow. He claims to want to help us all along to a brighter, easier future, and his sales pitch is very smooth.”

Birkert claims that he was “as the old song goes, almost persuaded. I saw what it could be like, our toil and misery replaced by a vivid, pleasant dream. Fingers tap keys, oceans of fact and sensations get downloaded, are dissolved through the nervous system. Bottomless wells of data are accessed and manipulated, everything flowing at circuit speed.”

Birkert concludes the book from which these passages are taken - The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate Of Reading In An Electronic Age - with his fervent hope that we will resist these devilish temptations for as long as can.

Birkerts’ fears now seem so naïve and even primitive from our vantage point sixteen (might as well be 16 million light) years later. But, as we know, there are many who still share Birkerts’ fears and apprehensions about the fate of reading in this digital and Wi-Fied age.

Five years ago, in a book that played the Devil’s advocate to Birkerts’ paranoid visions, Steven Johnson asked us to imagine what we would be saying about books if they were new inventions coming into a world

“Keeping An Eye On Popular Culture Since 1989”

What Is It? Is It A Book?

that had long been dominated by digital gaming and other forms of electronic interactivity.

In this kind of parallel universe, here’s what critics of these new forms of information might be saying: “Reading books chronically understimulates the senses. Unlike the longstanding tradition of gameplaying - which engages the child in a vivid, three-dimensional world filled with moving images and musical soundscapes, navigated and controlled with complex muscular movements - books are simply a barren string of words on a page...

Books are tragically isolating [and] force the child to sequester him or herself in a quiet space, shut off from interaction with other children... [Books] follow a fixed linear path [and reading] is not an active, participatory process; it’s a submissive one. The book readers of the

younger generation are learning to ‘follow the plot’ instead of learning to lead.”

Johnson’s Everything Is Bad Is Good For You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter, has stirred up a legion of critics, but also has, more importantly, given us a necessary perspective from which to debate this divisive issue of just what constitutes a book, or even reading as an activity. As a student of popular culture, I find it necessary to stand and defend Johnson’s conclusion that the “cultural race to the bottom is a myth,” because “we do not live in a fallen state of cheap pleasures that pale beside the intellectual riches of yesterday... Dumbing down is not the natural state of popular culture over time - quite the opposite.”

Yes, it’s true that we still live

in a literary culture where many people of all ages proudly consider themselves readers. How else can you explain the popularity of the Harry Potter books, the Sookie Stackhouse mini-epics, and the existence of “big box” booksellers like Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Books A Million and an online behemoth like Amazon? But when you walk into a Barnes and Noble store, what is the first thing that catches your eye? That’s right - the commanding and enticing display of Nook E-readers and their various accessories. Who says a book has to be made out of paper and filled with pages that can be easily dog-eared, ripped out, or embellished with marginalia and underlining? Why does the experience

See BOOK, page 45

September 14, 2010 • The Loafer, Page 47

Page 48, The Loafer • September 14, 2010

Arts

Looking for someone to hand quilt a quilt top. Please call in Kingsport @ 423-863-5911 or email tnfreckles@ gmail.com Scrapbooking Classes! Learn about exciting new ideas and techniques whether you’re a beginner or not!

Individual classes, workshops and crops available. Contact teachu2scrap@charter.net or call (423) 383-2897 for more information.

The Art Gurls, who are a group of creative women who get together once a month at the Wild Flour Restaurant in Abingdon, VA. To eat, drink, exchange stories and ideas, and to hatch out art projects. For further information call Barbara Carter at (423) 239-5757 or (423) 943-7505.

Ceramic Classes, Fridays 5-8 p.m., Drop-ins welcome. All day on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Call (423) 426-1027 or (423) 257-5117 for more information.

Wednesday Morning Painters meet at 10 a.m. each Wednesday at Abingdon’s Arts Depot for a few delightful hours of painting and artistic interaction. All persons interested in painting in an informal, relaxed atmosphere are encouraged to attend. All skill levels are represented and there is no fee. Contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-9091 for more information.

Flowers by Fran. Classes for painting flowers, wild life & landscape. Classes being taught. Call Fran at (423) 753-7310.

Art Life will offer a Creative Arts Program for children featuring workshops in creative writing, drama, play writing, are and photography. Workshops will be held Saturdays throughout the year. Cost is one-time (per year) fee of $40 per student, $60 for two in one family, and includes all workshops, art events and subscriptions to an arts publication featuring stories, poetry and other works by students. Call Kim at (423) 245-4711.

Classes/Workshops

Breastfeeding Support/LLL Johnson City Meeting – NEW Second Sundays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 East Market Street, Johnson City, TN 37601. Meets in the lower level, room LL14.Call Samantha with questions at 423-956-3525 Parenting Information and Support - Johnson City Meeting – NEW TriCities Parenting, API Second Sundays 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 East Market Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 Meets in the lower level, room LL14. Call Samantha with questions at 423-956-3525 Parenting information and help – NEW TriCities Parenting, API Second Wednesdays 10:00 to 11:00 am Java Js coffee house on State Street in Bristol (501 State Street, Bristol, VA, 24201) Students from King College will have something for older children to do - this is optional and for your convenience, as desired. More info: Samantha, 423-956-3525 Breastfeeding Cafe – NEW Second Wednesdays 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Java Js coffee house on State Street in Bristol (501 State Street, Bristol, VA, 24201) Meeting style is casual, come get your questions answered, encourage others, etc. Students from King College will have something for older children to do - this is optional and for your convenience, as desired. More info: Samantha, 423-956-3525 Breastfeeding Support/LLL Bristol Evening Meeting Fourth Tuesdays 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm YWCA Bristol, State Street, Bristol, TN Call Katherine with questions at 276-466-4860 Breastfeeding Support/LLL Bristol Day Meeting First Fridays 10:00 pm - 11:30 pm Avoca Branch Library, Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN Call Katherine with questions at 276-466-4860 Preparing for 2012-Before, Then & After Workshops are ongoing and held in Gray, TN. The 10-week workshop series explains the 2012 phenomena and provides the information necessary for students to understand what is happening on our planet and what they must do about it. Students learn to prepare themselves and their families mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually to effectively endure these occurrences. These workshops are not about fear, panic and desperation; they provide comfort, awareness, and knowledge of the truth during times of uncertainty. Dr. Mitzi Pyles intuitively received this vital information, and it is scientifically supported throughout the series. Contact Dr. Pyles at 423-467-3302 or visit www.PreparingFor2012.com for more information or dates and times of upcoming workshops.

An Introduction to The Heart of Huna: 7 steps to a whole-hearted life. Meets the 2nd Wednesday from 6:30-9:30pm.

Imagine living your perfect life! This introduction to Hawaiian Huna and Aloha offers simple principles to live in harmony in relationship with oneself, each other and the environment. By applying the ancient principles of Huna you can achieve a life centered in love-for a more meaningful, whole-hearted life. For more information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) 926-1648 or www.kaleowheeler.com

Are you looking to give your life meaning? Therapeutic Foster Parenting offers tremendous fulfillment. We need singles or married couples in Washington County, VA or Bristol, VA to work with children from ages 5 to 18, who have some history or emotional instability. Specialized training and a monthly fee are both provided. Call Andre-Highlands Community Services at (276) 645-4781 for more information.

Interested in fostering or adopting a Child? The Tennessee Dept. of Children’s Services is currently offering a FREE Foster/Adoptive Parent Training. Classes will be offered in Johnson City, Greeneville, Rogersville, Elizabethton, and Blountville. Please call 877-DCS-KIDS (877-327-5437) for more information.

Therapeutic Yoga. To manage & control Parkinson’s Disease. Learn concentration, techniques, to neutralize, daily stresses & increase focus & memory. For more information call (423) 246-3805 or (423) 246-5149

Mavis Beacon Typing - Free of Charge. Boost efficiency and enhance productivity with excellent keyboarding skills. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 15 is an ideal tutorial program for any keyboard user. Featuring customized lessons, motivating speed tests and progress reports, dictation practice and more, this versatile program is equally effective for the young student typist, the busy executive or the professional administrative assistant seeking to improve their skills. Instructor: Kim Skeens, Lab Coordinator. Visit our website @ www.ywcabristol.org or for more information call for details, (423) 968-9444.

Trinity Baptist Church announces the start of two new programs for children. Daughters of the King is a class for young ladies in 4th-6th grade where they will explore the basics of beauty. Through games, discussion, visiting consultants, and field trips we explore the world of beauty and then they will learn about what God describes as beautiful. Sons of the King is a program designed to build Godly character in young men grades 4-6 through Bible study, games, skill building and adventure. Both groups meet on Mondays from 3:30-5 p.m. separately at the church located on Headtown Road in Jonesborough. Transportation may be available. Call the church at (423) 753-4394 for more information.

Learn to use therapeutic grade Essential Oils to benefit mind and body. Day and evening workshops limited spaces. For information and registration call (423) 232-6254.

Magic Classes. Learn to do amazing magic tricks with everyday items. Tuesday nights at “Top Hat Magic Supply” in Bristol, TN from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Limited space. All ages welcome! Call Dave Vaught or Ryan Robinette for further information at (423) 968-3200.

Spanish Classes. John Arredondo & Associates is offering a variety of Spanish classes including Basic Spanish, Spanish II, Spanish for Building Trades, Spanish for Healthcare Workers, Spanish for Home Schoolers, Spanish Tutoring. For more information call (423) 483-4650.

Floral designing courses. A complete custom floral designing course day and night classes. Limited space, 10 persons per class. Call Fran (423) 753-7310.

Knit Too Together (Regional knitting guild) meets the third Tuesday each month at 1 p.m. at Christian Fellowship Church off Interstate 81 at exit 63. Johnson City knitters carpool to meetings. Call (423) 232-0644 in Johnson City for further information.

Blue Ridge Quilt Guild, Johnson City – meets 1st Wednesday of month. Social 9:30 am, meeting 10 am. Our Savior Luthern Church, Sunset Dr. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

First Frontier Quilters, Kingsport – meets 3rd Tuesday of month, 10 am at Bethel Presbyterian Church, Warpath Drive. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Holston Quilters Guild, Bristol TN – meets 3rd Saturday of month, 10 am at the First United Methodist Church, Vance Drive, Bristol. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Sycamore Stitchers, Elizabethton – meets 2nd Thursday of month, 9 am. At Sycamore Shoals State Park. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Appalchian Heritage Quilters, Gray – 1st Thursday of month is stitch-in, 3rd Thursday of month is meeting/program. Gray Community Center. 6 pm. Meeting times/ locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Unaka Piecemakers Quilt Club, Erwin – 1st Tuesday is business meeting, then working on projects. 3rd Tuesday is stitch-in. Social, 9:30 a.m., meeting 10 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, Rock Creek Rd. Meeting times/locations subject to change per current program schedule. Ask at local quilt shops for specific contact information.

Quilting Classes. Sponsored by Tennessee Quilts in Jonesborough. For additional information phone at (423) 753-6644.

Dance

West Coast Swing Classes! Thursdays at 7pm. Only $10 per class! Held at Stardust Dance Centre. 321 E. Sullivan St. Downtown Kingsport. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information.

Dancing Divas Class for Women! Ladies, learn Hip Hop, country and western, salsa, line dancing, belly dancing and more. Great workout. Lots of fun! Thursdays at 8pm.

Held at Stardust Dance Centre. 321 E. Sullivan St. Downtown Kingsport. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information. Group discounts available.

Hip-Hop. Learn the hottest new street dance moves and burn the floor! Every Thursday we offer beginner lessons for adults and kids. Children 7-12 meet at 4pm. Ages 13 and up meet at 5pm. Learn short routines to the latest songs or join a dance team and perform. Classes are held in downtown Kingsport. Monthly payments are the lowest in the tri-cities. Taught by Mike and Mark. Call now to pre-register 292-9512.

Beginner Belly Dance Class. “Veil and Zill” This class will focus on dancing with accoutrements (veils and finger cymbals). Dancers must bring their own accoutrements or they can be purchased at the studio on the first day of class. This (8) week class will be held on Mondays at 7pm. Coin skirts are recommended but not required. Dancers will learn short routines. Belly dancing is great for toning abs, thighs, triceps, biceps and buttocks. Routines are sexy, fun and mildly aerobic. Call 292-9512 to pre-register.

Magic Classes. Classes for beginners and up. Weekend workshops also available. Call Andrew Hyder for more information or to set up a time. (423) 213-9312

Tumbling, ballet, hip hop, tap classes available for ages 2 through 14 in Kingsport, Johnson City, Blountville, Allandale. No registration fees or contracts. Parents observe in the classroom. For more information phone (423)288-8346

Chics ‘n Chaps women’s motorcycle club meets the first Friday of each month at at 6:30pm. Please call (423) 341-8914 or (423) 292-7923 for meeting location.

Monthly Ballroom Dance: Fourth Friday of each month at Virginia Ballroom at 300 Senior Drive Abingdon - a relaxed way to practice your skills or hone them at the lesson before the dance. Lesson 7pm, Dance 8pm - 10pm. Alcohol and smoke free. No partner or experience necessary. A $5.00 donation to the Senior Center and a snack to share will be appreciated. Beverages will be provided. Call 276-623-4400 for more information.

Learn to get what you want out of life. Personal Empowerment Workshops, Meditation and other new ongoing classes are now being formed. All of these workshops and classes offer powerful, practical techniques and tools that are specifically designed to help enhance all aspects of one’s life. Workshops are held each Monday night.

Meditation classes are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Other classes are offered as needed.

Dr. Mitzi Pyles facilitates them. For more information call (423) 467-3302.

Latin Dance Aerobics Class – Salsa, Cha-Cha, Swing, Samba, Merengue, Hip-Hop, Belly Dance, Pasa Doble. Loose weight, tighten and tone. Fit into that new bikini or little black dress! Learn a new dance and make new friend. This class is an exciting and fun way to get in shape for the summer. Just $10 per dancer. No pre-registration or partner required. Just show up! Classes are every Monday at 6pm. 321 E. Sullivan St. Kingsport. Call 292-9512 for more information.

Beginner Belly Dancing - $10 per dancer. Mondays at 7pm. Classical, Egyptian and Tribal styles. Lean basic belly dance movements and mini routines. Dress in beautiful costumes. Fun way to tone target areas. Low impact but full body workout. Bring your friends, family and co-workers. Call Sharah for more information at 292-9512.

FREE Summer Hip-Hop High School Class – Tuesdays at 5pm. Hip-hop / cha-cha / salsa / lyrical. High school students only, no exceptions. 321 E. Sullivan St. Kingsport. Taught by Brooklynn. Call 292-9512 for more information.

required areas of study and meets from 8:30am-4:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. The CSAC and CSAC-A are the baseline credentials for individuals seeking to enter the field of addictions treatment in Virginia. For more information, call Eric Greene at (276) 523-8300.

There will be Line Dance Lessons held every Tuesday at Fanatics Sports Club in the DoubleTree Hotel. Beginner lesson is at 6:30 and intermediate is at 7:30. Dance to the latest dances being done nationwide to country, pop, latin, tango and hip-hop music. No experience needed and no partner required. Located at 211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City. For more information call (423) 282-1848 or tnlinedancer@hotmail.com.

Federation of Families: Lee, 2nd Monday 6:30 p.m. Jonesville First United Methodist Church Federation of Families meets monthly to provide support and education for families dealing with the challenges of raising a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.

The group meets the 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30. Registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, call Brenda or Theresa at 276-431-4370 or 888-443-1804. Children are welcome. Calling 888-443-1804 can provide transportation assistance.

Lyrical for Children and Adults! Learn to express the lyrics of a song with movement! Children Thursdays 5-6pm, Adults Thursdays 6-7pm. Pre-registration required. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information.

Federation of Families: Scott, 3rd Monday 6:30 p.m. Holston View United Methodist Church Federation of Families meets monthly to provide support and education for families dealing with the challenges of raising a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.

The group meets the 3rd Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30. Registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, call Brenda or Theresa at 276-431-4370 or 888-443-1804. Children are welcome. Calling 888-443-1804 can provide transportation assistance.

Toddler Dance Class! 18mo’s, 2’s and 3’s. 1 parent must attend with child. 10 student maximum (so hurry and reserve your child’s spot.)

Learn rhythm, movement and get some socialization. Pre-registration required. Call (423) 292-9512 for more information. Saturdays 11am.

Youth Ballroom! Waltz, Rumba, Tango, Cha-Cha, Foxtrot, Swing and More!

Dance lessons being taught for couples and singles every Friday night at the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Center, 300 W. Mill St. in Elizabethton. Class begins at 6:30 p.am. and includes a one hour lesson and 30 minutes of practice. Cost is $10 for singles and $15 for couples. Dances includes Two-step, swing, waltz and more. You do not need a partner to attend. Call 547-6441 for more information.

Federation of Families: Wise, 1st Monday 6:30 p.m. Presbyterian Church Federation of Families meets monthly to provide support and education for families dealing with the challenges of raising a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues. The group meets the 1st Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30. Registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, call Brenda or Theresa at 276-431-4370 or 888-443-1804. Children are welcome. Calling 888-443-1804 can provide transportation assistance.

Line dance lessons every Tuesday at The Doubletree Hotel, Johnson City. Beginner lessons from 6:30-7:30 and Intermediate from 7:30-8:30. $5 for one or both lessons. Learn the latest dances to Music including Country, Pop, Waltz, Tango and Swing. No partner or experience needed. For more information contact (423) 282-1848 or tnlinedancer@hotmail.com

Lee County Suicide Prevention Coalition 4th Thursday, 2 p.m. Lee County Behavioral Health Services. The Suicide Prevention Coalition, formed to raise awareness and determine the available resources in the Lee County community for suicide survivors, will meet the fourth Thursday of every month. Anyone interested in helping support this cause, please contact Bill or Phyllis Russell at (276) 346-1641.

Monthly Social Dance for couples and singles. There will be a Social Dance held for couples, singles and line dancers on the second Saturday of each month at the Jonesborough Visitor Center. There will be a brief couples lesson and a brief line dance lesson at each event. Cost is $5 at the door and includes the lessons and the dance. Everyone is welcome. No dance experience is needed. Come and learn to dance or just enjoy watching in a friendly non-smoking atmosphere. 117 Boone St. Jonesbrough. For more information call (423) 928-2786 or email tndancer1@comcast.net

Moral Reconation Therapy Group, Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m. Wise County Behavioral Health Services. A Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) Group meets each Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. The group will be ongoing and juveniles ages 13-17 may join any time. Pre-registration is required by calling Jessica Williamson at 523-8370. MRT is a group designed to help juveniles on probation or who have a criminal or substance abuse history to make good choices by doing what is right.

The Bellydance Company is offering a promotional free of charge into to belly dance classes. Youth groups ages 14 to 25. Classes cover veil dancing and how to dance with finger cymbals, basic steps and combination. For additional information call (423) 202-3208.

Bellydance workshop now offering at The Broadway Café, Kingsport Saturdays from 5-6:30pm. Also, sponsoring a FREE to the public, International Language Club every Sunday from 11am – 2pm. Any level of language skills. Students, instructors & bilinguals of French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, German, Japanese, and Chinese, Tagalog, Hebrew and Latin are welcome. Call (423) 2464666 for more information.

Shimmering Oasis! The first belly dance school in the Tri-Cities has relocated. Anna Broyles (aka Ozma) teaches American/Middle-Eastern Dance or belly dance at Shimmering Oasis. Learn the ancient form of belly dance while toning your body. An excellent core workout that engages the entire body. Classes run Beginning through Advanced. For anyone regardless of age, size or previous experience. Try the first class free! Gift certificates are available. Also, dance troupe HIPnotic: The Gypsy Queens is available to perform at local events.

Contact Ozma at (276) 591-9736 or email: ozmadances@bvunet.net New Dance Class for Children at The Rose Center. The Rose Center is extremely pleased to offer new dance classes for children. We have an excellent teacher in Tammy Plasencia who will teach ages 3 and older in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern and lyrical dance as well as acrobatics. Classes are offered Monday through Friday; contact Rose Center for the specific schedule for your child. Fees range from $30 per month for pre-school 30-minute classes to $60 for advanced student classes; substantial discounts are offered for more than one class per week. Call Rose Center at 423-581-4330 for more information and to register for class.

In the Introduction to Ballroom Dance class, students will start with the four basic movements used in ballroom dancing. Three to four dances will be taught with 3 to 5 patterns used in each dance. A native of Knoxville, Kennedy has been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 20 years and is a certified adjudicator in all five categories of competition. He has trained some of the finest teachers in the country and has worked with some of the world’s top champions. He teaches the American style of dance. Private lessons are also available at $50 per session. Contact Lynn directly at 865-455-6975 to schedule private lessons. Kennedy would also like to offer a call to those who would like to become dance instructors. Contact Rose Center if you are interested in learning to teach ballroom dance.

Contra Dances are held twice a month in the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone St. Live music in a smoke/alcohol free environment. For more information and schedule visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org or call David Wiley at (423) 913-3246 Mountain Empire Shag Society dances the Carolina Shag on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in the lounge at the Holiday Inn on N. Roan St., Johnson City. Free basic lessons at 8 p.m. Private lessons available by appointment. Club DJ Bigfish Calhoun plays the best in shag, r&b and beach until 10 p.m. For more information call Carl Edwards, VP, (423) 878-5877 or Larry Calhoun, DJ, (423) 239-5906.

Ballroom Dance. Learn the waltz, swing, cha-cha, rumba, salsa, tango, foxtrot and more in your choice of a group or class or private lesson.

Both male and female instructors make learning easy, fun and exciting. A national champion offers Competitive and social instruction available and ongoing classes. Couples are welcome but no partner or dance experience is necessary. Friday night parties are offered to practice what you’ve learned. Classes conveniently located in Johnson City. Group class and parties $10/person. Please contact Amanda at (423) 833-5093 for more information.

Education

Tobacco Education programs. Tobacco Education Group (TEG) offers a positive alternative to suspension from school for students in trouble because they have violated their school’s policy on tobacco use. This 8-week program motivates students to reduce tobacco use, make healthier choices, quit tobacco on their own, or join a voluntary tobacco cessation program. Tobacco Awareness Program (TAP) helps students with information, motivation, and support to quit using tobacco. Each student designs his or her approach by choosing a suitable quit date and cessation methods. Both programs, available in Lee, Scott, & Wise Counties, and the City of Norton, are fully funded by the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF), Planning District 1, and Frontier Health. For more information, call 276-523-8360.

TRACES Foster Care. Frontier Health’s TRACES Foster Care Program needs therapeutic foster parents in Northeast Tennessee. TRACES foster parents receive free training, 24-hour support services, and tax-free reimbursement for care. Caseworkers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week for emergency needs. Call 423-224-1043, for more information on becoming a foster parent.

VALUES Foster Care. Frontier Health’s VALUES Foster Care Program, a child-placing agency licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services, needs therapeutic foster parents in Lee, Wise, and Scott counties and the city of Norton. The program offers training, guidance and links to services needed to maintain foster care placement. Caseworkers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week for emergency needs. To become a foster parent, call 1-888-443-1804.

Didactic Training Requirement for the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Frontier Health and Planning District One Behavioral Health Services is presenting a 10-month comprehensive training for people seeking to fulfill the 220 hours of Didactic Training Requirement for the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Credential offered by the Virginia Department of Health Professions. The training covers all 10

“Children in the Middle”. Frontier Health offers a SAMSHA Model divorce education program titled CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE. This program is a skills-based curriculum that helps parents deal with their children’s reactions to divorce. Classes are offered each month in Lee, Scott and Wise Counties. The registration fee is $15 and participants will receive a workbook, guidebook and a certificate of completion. For more information, call Tracie Johnson at 1-888-443-1804.

American Sign Language. The Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing teaches several classes in American Sign Language, including Level I, Level II, Level III, and Level IV. When scheduled, the six-week classes are scheduled on Tuesdays at the Victory Center, Johnson City. Each Level class is $75 and will be taught by CCDHH instructors. For more information, for a schedule, or to register, call 434-0447. The Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a division of Frontier Health and provides communication between people who are hearing and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. CCDHH is a community service center providing services under contract with Federal and State Government Agencies, Businesses, Industries, Hospitals, Service Agencies, Courts and Individuals who are in need of assistance in communicating with people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Services are available in Carter, Claibourne, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. This program is funded in part by the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Job Corps has a limited number of openings for eligible youth between the ages of 16-24 in NE Tennessee area. The program helps young people complete their high school education and obtain skills training in high demand occupations. The program has been in existence since 1964 and operates 122 full-time residential training centers throughout the country. Training will last from 6 months to 2 years + there is an opportunity for advanced education following completion. If eligible, there is no cost for this training. To obtain more information contact Patty Sausser at the Northeast Tennessee Career Center located in Johnson City at (423) 610-0222 ext. 222.

Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency’s Head Start Program is currently accepting applications 3 & 4 year old children for the 2009-20010 school year. Head Start is a comprehensive educational and nurturing program which also addresses the emotional and physical needs of each enrolled child. Children must meet the eligibility requirements of the federal income guidelines and local Policy Council standards.

The Head Start program also provides services to three and four year old children with disabilities. All this is totally FREE to the family. In addition, transportation is provided except for the two Full Day/Full Year classes. Slots are limited. Apply today. For more information about an application or qualifications call Melissa Roark at (423) 764-7365 or come by 703 Florida Ave. Bristol, TN.

Venture Crew 1861 now seeking young men and women between the ages of 15 and 21 who enjoy scouting and outdoor activities but want an added twist of adventure and living history. VC 1861 is a co-ed Venture scout group portraying civilians and military, Confederate and Federal, from the Civil War. We do living history in our area and re-enactment’s at major battlefield sites in other states. Interested in joining or want more information? E-mail us at venture_1861@yahoo.com with your name, age, address and telephone # and we will get back with you with more information.

Patricia Freedman Literacy Academy offers help with GED preparation, remedial reading and math, English as a second language, English for Speakers of Other Languages, military entrance test/ASVAB, and college entrance exams. The Literacy Academy also offers computer classes for Windows, Internet Usage, Basic Excel, keyboarding, resume writing, and assistance filing for financial aid. There is no charge for this assistance, but donations are always appreciated. For more information, call (276) 645-8790. Patricia Freedman Literacy Academy is located at 701 Goode St. inside the Bristol Public open Mon-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

State of Franklin Homeschoolers (SOFH) has several regular activities each month for area homeschoolers, as well as occasional field trips and other opportunities. SOFH is an inclusive group open to ALL homeschoolers regardless of race, religion, creed or educational philosophy.

For more information contact Michelle at (423) 538-6159.

Toastmasters: Learn to develop effective communication and leadership skills! Participate in a self-paced program designed to improve your speaking, listening and thinking. The Mission of Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. Wednesday Orators Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday from 12:05-1 p.m. at the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center on Wilcox Drive in Kingsport. For more information, contact Kathy Padgett at (423) 247-7983 or email at kpadgett@eastman.com.

Toastmasters: Learn to develop effective communication and leadership skills! Participate in a self-paced program designed to improve your speaking, listening and thinking. The Mission of Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. Twin City Toastmasters Club meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 5:45-6:45 p.m. at the Central Christian Church located at 424 Melrose St. in Bristol, TN. For more information contact Wanda Earp at (423) 764-2288 or email at wandaearp@chartertn.net.

YMCA Elementary After School Care. Kingsport YMCA is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Elementary Age After School Child Care Program in the following schools: Jackson, Kennedy, Lincoln, Jefferson, Rock Spring, Indian Spring, Kingsley, Miller Perry, Holston and Sullivan. For further information, please call the YMCA office at (423) 247-9622.

Gardening

Plant Swap. Meeting at Mize Farm & Garden, 929 W. Watauga Ave. JC. The first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. Trade plants/seeds you have in excess for something you don’t have. Have fun and meet new friends. For information call Sarita at (423) 434-1800.

with the serious disease of diabetes. This help comes in the various forms of informative meetings, events and personal support. For more information call Jim Smallwood at (423) 288-4576.

Health/Fitness

Color My World Healthy classes at Carver. Come and learn how you can keep a healthy heart after by-pass, stent, or other cardiac surgery. The class will be taught by members of “Mended Heart”, an American Heart Association affiliated group. Join us Tuesday morning, 10:00am – 12:00 noon Feb. 9th at Carver Recreation Center, 322 W. Watauga Ave. Johnson City. Space is limited so call and reserve your seat. For more information call (423) 461-8830.

Pilate’s Classes. Beginning Pilate’s mat classes offered Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Wear comfortable clothing, mats are supplied or bring your own. 112 W. Main St. Kingsport, TN. For additional information call (423) 392-4325.

Masters Swimming Program in Johnson City. Certified coach tailors the program to meet each participant’s needs and abilities. Practices are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6-7 a.m. For further information, contact Coach Chris Coraggio at (423) 833-5595.

An introduction to Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure. The Neck & Shoulder release. 3rd Mondays of the month from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Waterfalls of Wellness Healing Center. 739 Bluff City Hwy, Bristol.

Want to quit smoking? Lose weight? Reduce Stress? Improve your performance at school, work or sports? Healing Energies can help you meet your goals through Hypnosis. Please five us a call if you want to change your life. (423) 257-3521.

An introduction to Free Your Voice – Free Your Self. 3rd Tuesdays of the month. 6:30pm-8:30pm. Kaleo Wheeler (423) 202-3862.

The Johnson City Judo Club offers beginning classes in the sport of Judo for adults only at Girls, Inc. every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Classes are $2 per session. You will need to purchase a uniform. Visit www.johnsoncityjudo.com for more information, or call Brian Rowe at (423) 439-2047 or Bill Perkins at (423) 975-0171, We are a non-profit organization.

Gentle Flow Yoga Classes. Tuesday evenings from 7:15-8:15pm at Piney Flats United Methodist Church (fellowship hall). Suitable for all levels of students. Please bring your own mat and blanket. Only $5.00. Call Wendy @ (423) 220-0552 for more information.

Come and learn how you can take simple and affordable steps to improve the health and quality of your life. This series of workshops will present a variety of ways to improve your personal health, the health of your home, manage stress, deal with change, and more. The workshops will be held every 4th. Thursday of the month starting at 7pm. at Wellness Way Chiropractic: 103 Keystone Dr. in Blountville. Space is limited so call and reserve your seat. For further information please call 423-646-4038 or email us at WillVanInwagen@gmail.com Aikido in Johnson City! Classes held Mon and Thurs in downtown Johnson City. 103 W Market St. All skill levels welcome. Traditional Hombu style. Directions and more information at www.jcaikido.com Roller Derby – Are you female, over 18, and need to get out some aggression? Come try roller derby! Strap on some skates and join one of the fastest growing competitive sports in the nation. The Little City Roller Girls are currently seeking new skaters and referees to expand their roster. No previous experience or special skill sets necessary. Women of all shapes and sizes welcome! Men can join in on the fun as referees. Stop by our practices held every Wed 6:30-8:30pm and every Sun 12-2pm at the Johnson City Family Skate Center to get more info. The JCFSC is located at 930 W Watauga Ave at the corner of State of Franklin and Watauga. Check us out on the web at www.littlecityrollergirls.com ZUMBA – The hot new aerobic workout. Zumba is inspired by Latin dance and music, Zumba uses a variety of styles in its routines, including cumbia, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, mambo, rumba, flamenco, and calypso and Salsaton. Music selections include both fast and slow rhythms to help tone and sculpt the body. Anyone can do it..beginners to advanced. Only $7 per class Mondays & Wednesdays at The Muscle Factory, 2318 Buffalo Rd. Johnson City. For more information call (423) 929-7471.

Yoga Classes – Iyengar Inspired yoga classes offered at New Paradigm Health Center, 113 E. Unaka Ave. Johnson City on Fridays at noon and Saturday s from 9-10:30am. Call (423) 928-9394 for details.

Basics of Belly Dance! Ladies, get a jump start on that New Year’s resolution! All ages, sizes, fitness levels. Tone your body and boost self-esteem through tasteful Middle Eastern dance movements. Classes held every Monday, 6-7 P.M. at the Princeton Arts Center (2516 Oakland Ave.). Cost is just $5 per session. Call PAC at (423) 283-5800 for info or to sign up. Wear flexible clothing and join the fun!

Mountain Yoga, inside Mullins Shaolin Kung Fu on Springbrook St. in JC, offers yoga classes. Class times are Monday s & Wednesday s at noon and Tuesday s & Thursday s at 6:30am. First class is free. After that, there is a $10 drop-in fee, or $50 for a month of unlimited classes. Contact Jennifer Chisam at (423) 262-9551.

Learn to maintain a healthy weight naturally. Programs individually crafted by holistic nutrition and healthy living consultant Marie Browning. Sessions provide the information, guidance and support your need to improve your own health and well being. For information call (423) 367-1396 or visit www.healthiersolutionsbymarie.com Learn to maintain a healthy weight naturally. Programs individually crafted by holistic nutrition and healthy living consultant Marie Browning. Sessions provide the information, guidance and support you need to improve your own health and well being. For information call (423) 367-1396 or visit www.healthiersolutionsbymarie.com Take Yoga with an experienced Yoga Teacher and leave class feeling calm and refreshed. Yoga helps with pain management, Fibromalgia, Back problems, Stress management, and general well being. Stretch your body and relax your mind. Certified with Asheville School of Yoga. Beginner and advanced classes available. Call (423) 384-6440 for times and locations.

Yoga-Pilates classes on Tuesday and Thursday s at 6:30pm at Science Hill ALC. Call (423) 434-0206 ext. 1 to pre-register.

Pilates on the ball class at Breastfeeding Essentials. Monday nights at 5:30pm. Stroller Fitness classes Wed. & Fri. at 9am. Meet at Warriors. $5 per class. Call Lorie for more information at (423) 299-4014.

Aikido – Traditional Aikido. Increase your balance and center, refine your movements, and enjoy a vigorous practice. Classes taught on Tues. & Thurs. Dojo is in downtown Johnson City above Albert’s Pawn. ASU affiliated. All affiliations, ranks, and skill levels are welcome. Adult classes only. Call (423) 232-9600 for more information.

Karate/Yoga/Tai Chi for mind, body conditioning. $25/mo or $5/drop in. Call (423) 335-3903 for more information.

Learn the ancient form of belly dance while toning your body. An excellent core workout that engages the abdominals, legs, arms, shoulders and back. Try the first class for free! For any woman regardless of age, size or previous experience. Beginning through advanced. Gift certificates are available! Also, dance troupe Gypsy Queens is available to perform at local events. Contact Ozma at (276) 591-9736 or email: ozmadances@bvunet.net Attend a free workshop that will help you to create greater levels of health and wellbeing in your life. For more information call Will at (423) 646-4038.

American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments. Class will be held at Wellmont Outpatient Center, 130 W. Stone Dr. Kingsport from 12pm-2pm the first Monday of each month, at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, 1420 Tusculum Blvd. Greeneville from 10am-2pm the second Monday of each month and at American Cancer Society, 508 Princeton Rd. Johnson City from 1pm-3pm the third Monday of each month. Please contact 1-800-ACS-2345 for more information.

Water Aerobics. Tired of not having the energy to function during the day? Need a way to relieve stress? Want to be fit? Reduced your blood pressure? Increase muscular strength and endurance? Have a healthier, stronger heart? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, the water aerobics program at Elizabethton High School is for you. Beginner to advanced. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00pm (water walking) and 6:30-7:30pm (structured class) $3 per session. Dressing rooms available. Doors open 15 minutes prior to class. Lifeguard on duty. For more information contact Cindy Gober at (423) 474-0140 The Kingsport Diabetes Association meets the second Tuesday of each month at Indian Path Hospital Bldg 2002, 2 floor, Room #203 across from the emergency room. All are welcome. The KDA helps diabetics, parents of diabetics and their families to deal better nd

Christian Life Center at Munsey; indoor walking track, exercise room (includes Body Solid Weight Machine, Nordic track/elliptical crosstrainer, treadmill, stepper, rowing machines, stationary bike, etc.) Annual Fees: $25 - adults; $15 - youth/college. Also offered (some additional fees): Tai Chi, Scottish Country Dancing, Volleyball, Badminton, Yoga, Basketball, Softball, Ballroom Dance Lessons/Dances, Upward Basketball. Open Daily, Mon-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m; closes at 4pm on Fridays. Call for additional information (423) 461-8070 ext. 213.

The YWCA Fitness Spa invites members and non-members to participate in our Group Fitness Classes at our new 106 State St. facility. We are offering both Classic and Specialty Classes. All classes are appropriate for beginners. Please call (423) 968-9444 for more details and scheduling.

“Secure Plus Medicare Seminars” are held every Monday at the Slater Community Center from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. by John Deere Health Care.

Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

Strength Training is offered on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 9 a.m. for adults 55+ at the Slater Community Center. Becky Harris is the instructor. Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

Seniorcise for adults 55+ is held Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. at the Slater Community Center. Shirlene Coffey and Anna Horne are the instructors. Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

Therapeutic Touch/Energy Healing. Learn to use bioenergies to heal you and others. Limited size group for intensive learning experience.

No experience needed, only an open mind and heart Call Liza (423) 247-6765.

Aerobic classes. Held at Johnson City Seniors’ Center on Mon, Wed, & Fri. from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Teachers provided by students at ETSU. Classes are $1. per class. For info. Call (423) 434-6237

Reiki Clinic and Classes. Experience the profound healing effects of the Reiki System of Natural Healing. Clinic is open to the public, free of charge, 1st and 3rd Monday evenings, 7-9 p.m. Classes are held monthly for first and second degrees. For information and appointments, call Reiki Master/teacher, Sylvia Lagergren, (423) 928-0747.

T.O.P.S. The Take Off Pounds Sensibly Club meets every Monday at 9:45 a.m. at the Harmony Baptist Church Fellowship hall. For more information call (423) 349-7239.

Science of Deliberate Creation study group. Meets each Wed. night at 7pm to listen to and discuss the “Abraham” tapes. Contact Dan at jcmassagetherapist@yahoo.com or (423) 741-1566.

Meetings

Interested in amateur (HAM) radio or are you a ham that’s looking for a local club? Come visit Johnson City Amateur Radio Association at their monthly club meeting held at the North Side Hospital on every third Tuesday at 7pm in Johnson City. For more information, please visit www.jcara.org or call Dick, N4ARO, at (423) 929-1256.

Chanting Circles for Healing and Peace meets the 2nd & 4th Friday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm at Waterfalls of Wellness Healing Center, 739 Bluff City Hwy. Bristol. For more information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) 202-3862

Wolf Hills Fan Club is a gathering for seniors, 60 plus, with a Free lunch, starting at 10am at Abingdon Senior Center. For information, please contact (276) 628-5859.

Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club starts at 9:00am on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Breakfast, fellowship, and so much more at the Abingdon Senior Center, 300 Senior Dr. Abingdon, VA. For information, please contact (276) 628-5859.

The Quilting Club meets every Tuesday at 9:30am at the Abingdon Senior Center. You can learn, work on existing projects, or help with a community project. For information, please contact (276) 628-5859.

Law enforcement officers from the area recently organized a Fraternal Order of Police Lodge based in Erwin, TN. The name of the Lodge is Tennessee Unaka Lodge #93. The Fraternal Order of Police started in Pittsburgh, PA in 1915 with 23 members. Today the organization has over 2100 Lodges with 325,000 members. Unaka Lodge is the newest lodge in Tennessee and was started by Dan Moeser, an 18 year veteran of the National FOP organization and a retired federal law enforcement officer. He has also worked 5 years with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office. In 1998 Moeser also started a local Chapter of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Law Enforcement Club which is comprised of active and retired law enforcement officers who own and ride a motorcycle. That club presently has over 50 members. The FOP organization has a Mission Statement which in part encourages fraternal, educational, charitable and social activities among law enforcement officers. It strives to cultivate a spirit of mutual helpfulness among members and the people they serve with a goal to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession and establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life and property. Membership in the Unaka Lodge is open to all certified full time law enforcement officers and those retired from full time law enforcement duties, regardless of where they work or have worked in the past. Presently the Lodge has 20 members and applications are being processed for additional members. Meetings are held at the Erwin police department on the fourth Thursday of the month. Anyone interested in joining the Unaka Lodge may contact Dan Moeser at 423-232-8825.

More information about the National and TN State FOP is available at www.tnstatefop.com.The General William Campbell chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution meets on alternating months at the Abingdon Senior Citizen’s Center located at 300 Senior Drive just off White’s Mill Road. The meetings begin at 11:30 on the third Saturday of Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, and Dec. Programs are presented primarily on historical subjects by interesting and informed guest speakers. Interested men are invited along with their friends to visit and explore membership in this organization which is dedicated to promoting education of America’s Heritage and the values esteemed by the founding fathers of our Nation. For further information please contact Joe Alexander at 276-494-6079 or joealexander@ bvunet.net, or Jack Butterworth at jbutter208@Charter.net 423-652-2240, or Sydney Wike at 423-878-3474 or sidneywike@embarqmail.net

A monthly women’s circle, 4th Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Come together, share stories and discover commonality with other women.

This Circle of Women’s Voices gives women the opportunity to come together in community to help find our strength, independence, selfesteem, and satisfaction with ourselves and who we are. Through talk story, informal and interactive dialogue, we rediscover our own stories and realize our commonality. For more information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) 926-1648 or www.kaleowheeler.com

New Moon Gatherings. As the moon regularly moves through its phases and the year moves through the seasons, so human life has cycles and phases. This is an opportunity to come together in sacred space and celebration to experience the lunar cycle in action – setting our intentions for what we choose to create during this particular month and phase. For more information contact Kaleo Wheeler (423) 926-1648 or www.kaleowheeler.com Ex-Pats of Great Britain and Ireland are meeting the 1st Saturday of each month from 6:30-7pm at The Celtic Cupboard in Jonesborough. Come and meet others from your homeland. Refreshments served. Call (423) 948-9076 for more information.

The Newcomers Club of Kingsport is a women’s club that provides a fun, friendly, informal venue for both current residents and new residents to gather for social activities and to meet others in the community. Meetings of the Newcomers Club of Kingsport are generally held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, Sept. through May, at the MeadowView Marriot Resort and Convention Center, 1901 MeadowView Dr. Kingsport at 11:00am. The meetings will feature a social half hour, a cold buffet lunch for $11, a guest speaker, and discussion of events and activities in the great Kingsport area. Log onto www.newcomersclubofkingsport.com for more details.

The Twin City Photo Club of Bristol conducts their monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at the meeting room of Bristol Chamber of Commerce, corner of State and Volunteer/Commonwealth streets. Anyone interested in photography at any skill level is welcome to attend the meetings. TCPC has a monthly “Photo Safari” for location photography and are organizing the inaugural Rhythm & Roots Photography Contest. For more information, please call (423) 946-4132 Same-Sex Fellowship is an alliance of men 30 and older. This is a newly formed group which will engage in bi-monthly social activities with emphasis on strengthening a social support system. For more information email Shayne at doforothers101@yahoo.com Friends of Nature. We are now looking for new members to come join us in promoting both parks and nature programs. Meetings are held every 3rd Tuesday each month at Wing Deer Park. Please join us in the boardroom, behind the main office at 6pm. If you have any questions, contact Brad Jones at (423) 283-5821 or email chjwdp2@ johnsoncitytn.org The Happy Hillbillies Volkswagen Club, a newly formed club for all VW enthusiasts in the Tri Cities area, are meeting each second Saturday of the month to caravan to a local eatery and discuss events for Volkswagens. We welcome anyone who would like to come meet with us, learn more about our club and fellowship. Call for meeting places and times or for more information at (423) 743-0341 or (423) 735-2577.

Overmountain Sam’s club camps once a month and is looking for new members. We enjoy the outdoors, fishing, cookouts, traveling and meeting fellow campers. Contact Ron Hughes at (423) 928-1919 or John Williams at (423) 422-6287 for further information Center for Light and Healing invites you to attend their “Opening to the Miracles” Natural Healing Group from 12 to 6 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, except on holidays. Join us for a wonderful afternoon of meditation, healing, enlightenment, and fellowship! When healers come together with the same intent, our collective energy is increased manifold. We are delighted to have more than two dozen healers from our area working together, and the healing energy of our group is simply amazing! Group healing is a powerful way to manifest miracles! If you are an experienced healer or simply have an interest in healing yourself or others, join us as we open to the miracles! We meet at the Round Table Conference Center, 1104 Tusculum Blvd., in Greenville, on a love-offering basis. For further details on our group, services, or other activities sponsored by the Center for Light and Healing, visit our website at www.centerforlightandhealing.com or call (423) 638-2461.

Beaver Creek Storytelling now meets at Java J’s the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. with storytelling program at 7:30 p.m. Contact Mimi Rockwell at (276) 669-8358 or appalachianstory@aol.com Wine Lovers in the Tri-Cities area. The Tri-Wine Bunch, a non-profit group of friendly folks who share the love of wine, food, and good friends is heading into its 6th year.

Wine tastings, wine dinners, charitable events with wine and food themes are regularly held in the Johnson City area. Please visit our website, click on the buttons and become more familiar with us, and if you are interested in attending our events, just send an email to the address given on the website. www.sites.google.com/site/triwinebunch “The ARC, Alternate Realities Center”, is a internationally recognized research and membership organization dedicated to the philosophical and scientifc study of paranormal phenomena including Ghosts and Haunted Places, Bigfoot, UFOs - or Unidentified Flying Objects, Alien Abduction, Psychic Abilities as well as how these extraordinary experiences affect the human psyche. The ARC staff of Certified Ghost Hunters perform paranormal investigations of historic structures for the levels of spiritual presence. We offer monthly special interest group meetings to discuss personal experiences and hear about those of others. Local meeting times and locations may vary. In addition, through our public awareness tour company - Appalachian GhostWalks - we offer guided haunted history tours of the Historic Districts throughout our region and these operate nightly, year round. Our tours showcase the rich history and heritage of the Appalachian Mountains dating back to the Cherokee occupation of the area through the Frontier, Revolutionary, and Civil War eras of our past. Ten percent of our annual profits go to support Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Please visit our website at www.AppalachianGhostWalks.com for more information, or call (423) 743-WALK (9255) to schedule one of our haunted historic walking tours, or attend one of our local monthly group meetings.

The Moms Club of Bristol TN/VA Chapter Moms offering moms support. Are you a stay-at-home mom or just new to the area? Come on and join the fun and meet other moms just like you - playgroups, park days, field trips, community service and social MOMS night out are some of the events we do monthly. For more info call Mary Johnson at (423) 391-8818 or Veronica Hurley at (423) 383-5473 The Tri-Cities Miata Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm, alternating between Ryan’s Steakhouse in Johnson City and The Golden Corral in Kingsport, TN. Club drives take place the third Saturday of each month. Check www.tri-citiesmiataclub.com for details.

The Kingsport Gems and Minerals Society meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Normally, the meeting place is in the Eastman Toy F. Reid Employee Center, room 219. Some meetings will be in member’s homes to see their collections. Show and Tell will begin at 6:30pm followed by a seminar. Bring things you want to show off or get help identifying. If you are interested in gems and minerals, come join us! Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. Contact Jim or Anne Small at (423) 357-1509 for more information.

The Iris Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association meets the second Tuesday of every month at 5:30pm. Meetings are usually held at Peerless Restaurant, 2531 N. Roan St. Johnson City. ABWA offers great networking opportunities for professional businesswomen. Come join us for friendship and community involvement.

For more information, please call Barbara Barfield (423) 895-1726 The Newcomers Club of Johnson City meets at The Johnson City Country Club, 1901 E. Unaka Ave. on the third Thursday of every month. Social time begins at 10:30 a.m., and business meeting at 11 a.m. A buffet lunch, at the cost of just $14 all-inclusive, will follow. For luncheon reservations, please contact Bonnie Tuttle at (423) 477-3646. If you are interested in joining The Newcomers Club, contact Benita Turner at (423) 283-7217 or (423) 202-1679.

Women Social Group meets every Thursday at Hibbert Davis Coffee Gallery at 9:30 a.m. 1459 E. Center St. Kingsport. (423) 245-0443. Women, come and join us and learn to play mahjongg.

Voluntary Simplicity group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 136 Bob Jobe Rd. in Gray. The purpose of the group is to motivate individuals to examine and transform personal values and habits, to accept responsibility for the Earth, and to act on that commitment. For directions or more info, call (423) 349-6119 or email simpleintn@yahoo.com Tennessee Right To Life is the state’s oldest and largest pro-life advocacy organization. We are a non-profit, non-sectarian, volunteer-based organization affiliated with the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, D.C. Local chapter serves all counties of Northeast Tennessee. Tennessee Right To Life is an advocate for protection of human life through educational outreach, protective legislation and the development of an active grassroots movement statewide. Members of Tennessee Right To Life assist in providing direct and tangible resources to women and families facing difficulty or unexpected pregnancies. For more information on what you can do to participate or to attend our meetings call (423) 282-9621.

in writing is welcome to attend. For more information call Donna (423) 245-4711.

Sullivan County Genealogical Society meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Sullivan County Archives beside the courthouse in Blountville. Those researching ancestors from any area are welcome. Call (423) 323-1477 or www.scgs-tn.org

SEEKING TRI-CITIES PARROTHEADS!! The Hillbilly Parrot Head Club of the Tri-Cities TN/VA invites all interested persons who would love to “Party With A Purpose” to join in on the fun each month. Meeting dates, events, and times are always subject to change. For up to date event/ meetings schedule, visit us online www. hillbillyphc.com OR email hbphc@yahoo.com. Our club supports several local charity & environmental causes while occasionally living the life that Jimmy Buffet sings about.”

State Line All Scalers Model Railroaders Club meets the second Saturday of every month. Please contact Richard Armstrong for locations and time, (423) 538-6578.

WAND. Tri-Cities Chapter now forming! Tri-Cities WAND (Women’s Action for New Directions) is a part of a grassroots organization working to empower women to act politically to reduce militarism and violence, and to redirect excessive military resources toward human and environmental needs on both the local and national levels. Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at the Princeton Arts Center, 2516 Oakland Ave in Johnson City. For information or directions, please call Wendy at (423) 926-5116.

What is Altrusa? It is an international organization of business & professional women and men who want to make a difference in their community. While it was first organized in Nashville in 1917, it is far from being an old fashioned ladies group.” The Johnson City club is involved with the Elizabethton Emergency Child Shelter, the International Students at ETSU, and scholarships for women improving their lives by returning to school after being out in the work force. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. For further information call Susan Miller at (423) 833-3449 or email susanalbromiller@yahoo.com Kingsport Bicycle Association has rides year round. Those interested in this social/touring club can call 239-4406 or link to www.kba.tripod.com.

Christian Motorcyclists Association. Rays of the Son meets the 1st Saturday of the month at Mama’s House Buffet, 2608 N. John B. Dennis Hwy, Kingsport (across from North Highschool). Guests welcome. Call (423) 239-4921.

Book Review Group meets from Noon-1 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center, Panhellenic Hall, basement suite 2 (ETSU campus). Participants in this Book Review Group for women at ETSU discuss published works by and about women. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch. Regular meetings are planned for the third Wednesday of each month. For more information, call the Women’s Resource Center, (423) 439-7847.

Tri-Cities Metaphysical Study Group meets each Thursday at Holston Valley Unitarian Church, Interstate 26, Eastern Star Exit #10, Gray, TN. TMSG is a group dedicated to love, peace and wisdom and provides a place to share information for those interested in new age sciences. For information call Peggy at (423) 477-3339.

The First Tennessee Regional Group of the Mustang Club of America meets the fourth Thursday of each month excluding November and December at 7 p.m. at Mama’s House Buffet, 2608 N. John B. Dennis Hwy. Kingsport, TN. Open to all Mustang enthusiasts. Call (423) 323-8345.

The Phoenix Group plastic modelers. Meetings held the 1st Thursday of each month in Bristol, TN at 7p.m.

Modelers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. Workshops available. For additional information, please contact Jerry Hughson at (423) 968-9699.

Mental Health Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network meets at 10:30 a.m. on the 4th Tuesday of every month at Boone’s Creek Christian Church, 305 Boone’s Creek Rd. in Johnson City. The network is a grassroots collaboration of Tennesseans and organizations working to eliminate the stigma of suicide, educate the community about the warning signs of suicide, and ultimately reduce the rate of suicide in our state. For more information, contact Harold Leonard at (423) 857-5231.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Johnson City affiliate meets on the second Thursday at 7 p.m. each month at Harrison Christian Church, 2517 Browns Mill Rd. Johnson City. For information call (423) 282-0676 or (423) 543-4315.

Does it feel as if life is too much to handle? Do memories keep you locked in the past not letting you move forward? Are you questioning your spiritual beliefs wondering just where you fit in? Healing Energies can assist you in reducing your stress, healing past events, and finding answers to your questions. Please give us a call if you want to change your life. (423) 257-3521.

YWCA girls after School Program. The YWCA girls after school program will meet after school, Monday through Friday from 2:30 ñ 6:30pm.This program is designed to meet the individual needs of each girl to assist her in maintaining good grades in school, to increase her knowledge in technology and introduce her to potential career choices. The State of Tennessee Department of Education funds the YWCA girls after school program.

Girls who participate in this new innovative program are selected through the Bristol Tennessee City Schools by referrals (only) from the School Counselors. Visit our website@www.ywcabristol.org or for more information call for details @ (423) 968-9444.

Tennessee Mental Health Consumers’ Association (TMHCA) is a statewide advocacy and education organization for mental health consumers. For more information please call toll free (888) 539-0393.

Problem solving. Learn how to solve problems in life and create success in daily living. Call (423) 246-3805 or (423) 246-5149.

The Depression/Bipolar Group of Bristol VA/TN meets each Fridays from 1-3 p.m. in the meeting room of the Bristol Public Library, 701 Goode St. Room 22 ground floor. If you need to arrive later than 1 p.m., or leave earlier that 3 p.m., that’s OK. This is a meeting only of people suffering from these illnesses, and not for family members or others, although anyone may make a referral. All names, and any other information, are kept strictly confidential.

Lesbifriends: a great group of women, 40+ years, who get together for various events, including parties, dinners, hiking, atving, kayaking, games, golfing, and just hanging out. Come join the laughter, fun and support. Call (423) 753-4364 and ask for Carol.

Attention high school and college students: Do you want to earn recognition towards scholarships, or build up your resume? You can, as a Care Companion or Hotline Worker at The Crisis Center. Be a part of an agency that’s been helping neighbors for over 30 years. You can even volunteer from home! For more information contact Darlene at (276) 466-2218. The Crisis Center serves Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia as well as several national hotlines. Be a part of our volunteer team!

For Love of Words, a writers group meets the third Thursday of each month at Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery, 1459 E. Center St. Kingsport at 6 p.m. Anyone interested

Post Abortion Women’s Group. For women struggling with a past abortion. Group meets weekly at the Crisis

Pregnancy Center and provides in-depth discussion, spiritual help and support. Services are free and confidentiality is respected. Group participants will decide day and time of meetings. For more information call (423) 968-4673.

& B, Jazz style, ‘70s funk, classic rock and original music for any event. We play for private parties, company parties, special events, nightclubs, car shows, reunions, country clubs, etc. Do you like good music ya, ya? Call (276) 782-1842

CONTACT. Troubled? Need someone to talk to? Someone will listen and talk to you about any problem at all.

Call CONTACT confidential. Dial (423) 926-0144.

Up-to-date information about Drum circles in the Tri-Cities area is available online at www.FairyDrum.com or by emailing Tiffany@FairyDrum.com.

Adult Children of Alcoholics. Meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Princeton Rd. in JC. For more information call (423) 926-0144.

Grief counseling. By Medical Field professional. Modest fees for individuals by Parish Nurse (RN) Call (423) 753-6182.

Music Singer for former show band needs musicians. Bass, Key Board, Guitar, Ect. To appear in up coming movie. Serious inquiries only. Contact. Earl 423-232-1938, 423-737-1162.

Female Back Up Singer Needed For Corporate Band. Must be able to sing soprano harmonies, move well on stage, have positive attitude, and be available for weekend gigs. For more info call (423)483-8001 Girls Vocals needed for a girls band. No instruments needed. Top 40’s and 80”s songs. Please contact (423) 202-3208.

Experienced keyboard looking for funky drummer with good r & b and jazz chops. Needed immediately for bookings. Funk, jazz, disco, rock. Experienced keyboard looking for funky drummer with good r & b and jazz chops. Needed immediately for bookings. Funk, jazz, disco, rock apply to bass37615@yahoo.com.

Appalachian Express Men’s A Cappela Chorus. The Appalachian Express Men’s A cappella Chorus meets each Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Suite 203, Building 2002, at the Indian Path Medical Complex, Kingsport.

Visitors and prospective members are welcome. Call 423-384-9992.

Seeking Male vocal talent for on-going studio session work located in Bristol, TN. We seek top notch Nashville calibre vocal talent, country, country cross-over a plus, but not limited to. Permanent, steady part time contract work for the right exceptionally talented individual. (423) 878-3535 e-mail: studiocat2@yahoo.com Nashville Label, looking for lead guitar player for artist. Contact (423) 534-3909.

Need Keyboard Player for 4 to 6 person Jazz Band. Call Chuck McVey (423) 245-6932.

Violin Lessons - All ages and levels. 30 minute and 1 hour lessons available. Call 534-5359 for more information.

Piano Lessons – Beginner to adult. In your home or mine. It’s never too late to learn. Contact tricitiespianostudio@yahoo.com for more information Piano Lessons - beginner to intermediate. Free orientation. Contact David at (423) 538-4486.

Flute Piccolo, Pennywhistle and Irish Flute Lessons. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced players welcome. Also, flute repair service available. Martha A. Egan, teacher.

For information contact (423) 677-8909 or maegan26@yahoo.com

The Hills are Alive! Chorus of Sweet Adeline’s International meets each Tuesday from 7-9:30pm at the Carolina Pottery Outlet Mall, Suite 247, located on Interstate Hwy 81 at Exit 66. New members are placed by voice range and trained in their particular parts. For more information contact: Jane McKamey at (423) 247-5465 or Jean Miller at (423) 926-5572.

Parenting Parenting Classes, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.Developmental Services, Big Stone Gap, Va. Free parenting classes for parents and guardians of children age 5 and under are offered every Wednesday from 10 to Noon for parents in Lee, Scott, Wise counties and the City of Norton. Siblings are welcome to attend any class. Call to schedule at (276) 523-8376.

Parenting Wisely. Frontier Health is offering a program for parents of children ages (8-18), titled Parenting Wisely. There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information, call Tracie Johnson or Amy Bledsoe at 1-888-443-1804.

Parents as Tender Healers. Children in foster care need adults willing to look out for their best interests and put them on the road to healing. Adults who think they may want to be foster parents can explore that option through “Parents As Tender Healers” (PATH), an intensive training program for prospective foster parents. Frontier Health, Planning District One Behavioral Health Services and VALUES Therapeutic Foster Care sponsor this event. The program is free; participants’ interest will determine location and time. For more information, call Jon Holmes at 1-888-443-1804.

Parents Who Care, Mondays, 9 a.m., Addington Hall, Duffield, VA. Frontier Health and PD1 offers a program for parents of teen-agers in Lee, Scott and Wise counties and the city of Norton on Monday mornings from 9 to 10:30. There is no charge. Pre-registration is requested. 1-888-443-1804.

Vanderbilt performance major offering affordable flute and piccolo lessons for the summer. 11+ years of experience. Call (423) 341-1872.

Attention Mothers of Preschoolers: MOPS is a program designed to help mothers with children from infancy to kindergarten be the best moms they can be through teaching, discussion and community while children are cared for in the parallel program called MOPPETS for the morning meeting. Abingdon MOPS will meet the first Wednesday morning of each month at Abingdon Bible Church, 9:15am to 12:15 p.m. MOPS offers two night meeting times: the third Monday night at 7 p.m. or the third Wednesday night at 6:45 p.m. Both night meetings will study the 5 Star Family Curriculum, which includes segments of Love, Fun, Loyalty, Faith and Growth. For more information on MOPS, call Christina Moore, MOPS Coordinator, (276) 356-8225.

Band in need of guitar player and keyboardist for local hot cover band with booked gigs. Must have experience, work ethic, good attitude, and be on time. Weeknight rehearsals and weekend gigs possible at any time. Call (423) 833-8178

MOMS club of Johnson City - Expecting Mom? New Mom? New in town? Just a mom that needs support? We have activities to keep you busy throughout the month such as playgroups, park days, luncheons, field trips and moms night out. We also do service projects to benefit our community. Come on and join the fun and meet other mothers just like you! For more information visit www.geocities.com/momsclubjohnsoncity or call Janice at (423) 753-3891.

A new Beginning Guitar class will start at Rose Center on Saturdays .The group class meets from 11 AM to 12 PM each Saturday for ten weeks. Beginning Guitar will cover all the basics to lead into any style of playing. Basic chords, strums, notation reading, and basic music reading will be taught as well as physical technique - how your hands work to play guitar. Craig Carroll is the instructor for this class. The fee is $50 for the 10-week course.

Students must provide their own guitar and will purchase a chord chart and music book from the instructor at a cost under $15. Group size is limited to ten students. Call Rose Center at (423) 581-4330 or 586-6205 for more information or to pre register.

Breastfeeding support and information. La Leche League meets every fourth Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the YWCA of Bristol; TN. Mothers-to-be and nursing mothers are all welcome. For further information, please contact Samantha at (423) 878-8359

Lead Guitarist looking to join/form band. Mix of classic and new rock and blues. Plenty of experience and equipment. Call Wayne at (423) 737-8724.

New Tri-Cities Contemporary Christian band is looking for a Guitarist and a Keyboardist. E-mail or call for more information. (423) 202-8416, stclowe@yahoo.com.

Christian Musician available. Experienced with church music. I play piano, organ & direct church choirs. Call Susan at (423) 542-2911.

The Zonkers, a dynamic 4-piece group featuring sax, keyboards, Tropical rock, Buffet, classic saxophone rock, “limbo rock”. “We’re Bonkers for Zonkers” available for all events both corporate and private. Contact Zane Wooten at (423) -5554 or www.thezonkers.net Keyboard Player available. 30+ years professional experience. I play all styles/good references. Call Bruce at (423) 323-9378 Have an open night on your entertainment calendar? Don’t worry at all, call “Wail’n Perry Show. The live music specialist with the lowest rates! Free Audition/CD (276) 646-3680 The Civic Chorale is an auditioned volunteer choir drawing its members from throughout the Tri-Cities region.

The choir offers a concert season featuring a variety of musical styles at area venues. Audition information, concert schedules, and repertoire listings can be found at www.thecivicchorale.org or contact the conductor, David Hendrickson at conductordavid@embarqmail.com or call (423) 247-1147.

Drummer – 40 years experience playing many styles-seeks R & B, Funk, Jazz type gig. Also do BG vocals and play congas/bongos. Call Bob at (423) 946-5294 Honky Tonk Piano, B3-style keyboard player needed to fill the fourth spot of a new local Original/Rock band.

Please, professional players only! Please call (423) 943-5552 for an audition and more information.

With a voice like that, you should be singing! Singer’s Network connects singers with ensembles and venues for performance. Madrigals, Classic 40’s & 50’s, Vocal Jazz, Celtic, Americana and beyond – Celebrate the human voice and the gift of song. (423) 542-9799 or rg2sing@yahoo.com Wanted: Lead Guitarist w/ experience to join working Rock-n-Roll cover band. Background vocals a plus.

Contact J.R. at (423) 677-3702 Seeking Saxophonist and vocalist for Tri-Cities jazz ensemble. Call (423) 483-3243.

Glenn Body and The Blues Cruzers, a top notch pro styled band plays the best of 50’s, 60’s, Motown soul, R

Do you have room in your Heart and Home - for a child? Holston Home for Children has been serving children and families in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia since 1895. We are currently looking for individuals and families to become part of this vital ministry to children and youth. To find out how you could open your home to a child in need please call 1-800-628-2986 or visit our website at holstonhome.org Children’s Cultural Arts. Providing private sessions in sculpturing, drawing, painting and fibers, which facilitates your child’s art with history and science. To generate more interest, excitement and creativity, call for your appointment with Marty King at (423) 239-3104.

Tri-Cities Twins and More Club, an affiliate of the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs. We offer support and education to mothers of twins, triplets, etc.

Meetings are every fourth Monday of each month at 7p.m. in the Cafeteria of the Johnson City Specialty Hospital, 203 E. Watauga Ave. Johnson City. For more information, call Jill at (423) 257-2177.

Religion St. John’s Episcopal Church is seeking singers to assist our choir with the Christmas season. For more information contact Kyle Osborne at musicstj@charterinternet.com.

Jonesborough Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 2pm at Jonesborough Presbyterian Church. Contact Zel Hester at (423) 913-1214 for more information.

Light House Ministries of the Tri-Cities, Inc. An independent, alternative Christian Community. We welcome ALL of God’s people! With NO exceptions! Sunday evening services at 7 p.m. 136 Bob Jobe Road, Gray, TN. (423) 913-2715

Young adults and college students are invited to the Upper Room CoffeeHouse, every Wednesday at 9 p.m. at First Assembly of God, 2213 Brandon Lane, Kingsport.

For information please call (423) 247-1169

Musical Seeds Ministry is a faith-based ministry promoting Unity in the body of Christ. We encourage people to discover their gifts and talents and use them for the Kingdom of Heaven. We are also establishing a Unity Quest – a gathering of God’s people. For more information please call Robert and Susan Hawkins at (423) 542-2911.

Looking for like-minded people who believe in Protecting the Earth, Elimination of prejudice, Equality of men and women. There are spiritual solutions of economic problems. Check our web site at www.bahai.org or call (423) 232-6254. Give us a call and let’s get together.

St. Anne Catholic Church invites anyone who is interested in learning about the Catholic Church, is Catholic but no longer attends Mass, is curious about what Catholics really believe, to come talk with us on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Parish Library. St. Anne Catholic Church is located at 350 Euclid Ave. Bristol, VA. For directions to St. Anne’s or for more information, call Jim Yencha at (276) 669-8200 ext. 23 or email Jim at jpy@stannes-bristol.org. We’re here to listen and answer your questions.

Trinity Baptist Church is offering a scrapbooking Bible Study titled “Fruits of the Spirit.” Participants will enjoy 10 weeks of a two-hour class, which incorporates a bible study devotion with the hobby of scrapbooking. Each class member will complete a 20-page album. The class is open to novice as well as experienced scrapbookers.

Classes will meet on Saturdays from 10am until noon. There is a $16 fee for the class book and some supplies will be necessary. Please call (423) 753-4394 for more information or to register.

The Oasis Church has moved to 1109 Old Gray Station Rd., Gray, TN. And is meeting Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. Are you dried up from boring, pointless sermons, sad, lifeless music, cold unloving people and powerless services? Well, come to the Oasis and get a drink of the Living Water! It’s full of life, love, power, uplifting music, and instructions for living. You’ll find something for every member of your family. For more information call (423) 292-4728 to talk with Pastor Tony Marshall. We are affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

Christ’s Church United of Northeast Tennessee holds services at 7 p.m. every Sunday evening. Communion is held on the third Sunday of each month. The church meets at 136 Bob Jobe Rd., Gray, TN. (at HVUUC facility). Call the church office at (423) 915-0655 and leave a message or send us an e-mail to frankflanigan@earthlink. net for more information.

by trained volunteers, many of whom have experienced an abortion themselves. If you want more information on PACE for yourself or a friend, please call Elaine Wallen at (423) 276-9070.

Unity Church of the Tri-Cities – A “Spiritual Home” where ALL ARE TRULY WELCOME! Please come see us at 703 S. Roan St. in Johnson City. Warm, loving people, great music, great messages, and None of the guilt! Sunday church service start at 10:30am, adult and children Sunday school. A Course in Miracles class Wednesday nights at 7pm. Rev. Sharon Davidson, Minister. Call (423) 975-9159 for more information.

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences, the death of a loved one. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. GriefShare support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. We meet weekly on Monday nights at 7pm in Room 205 at Celebration Church, 427 Shipley Ferry Rd, Blountville.

There is a registration fee of $12, which includes the workbook. Pre registration is requested and can be done at the Welcome Center or by calling the church office at (423) 323-3969 and leaving a message. For more information check out thecelebrationchurch1.org or visit www.griefshare.com

Seniors If you are 55 or older, unemployed, living on a limited income and want a job, we can help. Meritan is a non-profit organization offering paid training and job placement assistance for qualified seniors. For more information, call Holly Hudson at (423) 610-0222 ext. 221 or email her at hollyhudson@meritan.org. TN residents only.

Wee Remember Support Group, Every Quarter, 7 p.m. Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital, Big Stone Gap. A parent support group for families who have experienced the death of a baby is held every quarter. Call (276) 423-8641 for next meeting date.

Johnson City Senior’s Center serves all adults 55 and over. The Center hosts card groups, computer classes, a varied sports program, art classes, regular health screenings and much more to keep you active and healthy. Please call (423) 434-6237 for more information.

Wise County Suicide Prevention, 10 a.m. Wise Trinity United Methodist Church TBA. The coalition formed to raise awareness and to determine available resources in the Wise County community for suicide survivors. Anyone interested in helping support this cause, please contact Jean Layell at (276) 328-6825.

Trinity Kid Express, the children’s ministry division of Trinity Baptist Church, announces the return of the Daughters of the King class. This class is for you ladies ages 10, 11 and 12. The group meets every Monday from 3:30-5 at the church to learn about beauty tips, fashion tips, etiquette, and more. They also study what the Bible teaches about Godly beauty. Crafts and visiting consultants are also included in the curriculum. Interested young ladies should call (423) 753-4394 for more information.

Transportation may be available to those who need it.

The Kingsport Senior Center offers a variety of exercise classes for all fitness levels. Monday – Friday, including aerobics, strength training, yoga, Pilates, dance and stretching using resistance bands. Call (423) 392-8400 for more information.

Kingsport Senior Center. The resource for senior service information and recreation! Open to all adults 50 and over. The Center offers over 20 exercise/fitness classes, as well as computer, art, basket and woodcarving classes, a fully operational woodshop and clay studio, weekly jam session for area musicians, plus much more. City residents pay $15. per year and county pays $60. For additional information call (423) 392-8400.

SAFE House Domestic Violence Support Group. Weekly in Kingsport For information on the location and time of meetings, please call 246-2273.

Omnbudsman Program. Volunteer to assist residents of long-term care facilities by mediating and resolving concerns and problems. Training is required and provided.

For more information call (423) 246-1650.

SAMSON Support Group. Mondays, 7 p.m. His Ministries, 407 Wood Ave., Big Stone Gap.SAMSON Support Group for people with addictions meets weekly on Mondays. SAMSON, or Steps and More Strength Overcoming Narcotics, helps individuals face everyday life situations, overcome their addictions and create purpose through a step process, education, life skills training and most important, unconditional love. Call (276) 523-7447, for more information

Sports Little City Roller Girls is an all female flat track roller derby team in the Tri-Cities area. Currently recruiting females 18 years of age and up. We hold practice on Wed. from 7-9pm and Sundays from 12-2pm. Practice is located at the Johnson City Family Skate Center located at the corner of Watauga & State of Franklin. For more information visit our website at www.littlecityrollergirls.com.

Scott County Suicide Prevention Coalition. 3:45. Addington Hall. The coalition is working to raise awareness on the issue of suicide and to find out more about available resources in the Scott County community for suicide survivors. Anyone interested in helping support this cause or wishing to attend meetings, please contact Amy Bledsoe at (276) 431-4370.

The Barracuda Swim Club is multi-level youth swim team for children ages 7 through high school. New swimmers are always welcome. We have practice locations for Johnson City and Kingsport. A free trial can be arranged with the coach. For more information call (423) 833-5595 (Johnson City) or (504) 231-9941 (Kingsport), or check us out at www.BarracudaSwimClub.org

Southwest Virginia Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition, 11 a.m., Developmental Services, Big Stone Gap. The regional coalition is working to coordinate suicide prevention efforts in local communities. For more information on upcoming meetings, contact Ken Taylor at (276) 523-8300.

The Kingsport Judo Club will be offering free Judo classes to girls who are of 8-9 years of age. For more information call Mr. Collier at (423) 288-6862. Visit us online at www.kingsportjudo.com. We are located at 2305 Ft. Henry Dr. Kingsport.

Survivors of Suicide Support Group – Virginia, 1st, 3rd Monday, 6 p.m. Lee Regional Medical Center. A support group for Survivors of Suicide is being held every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month beginning at 6 p.m. The group meets in the Medical Plaza West Wing classroom. For more information, call Bill Russell at (276) 346-1641.

Pickleball, Thursday evenings, 7-9 p.m. at Munsey Memorial UMC (Christian Life Center); Roan/Water St. entrance. Call (423) 461-8070 ext. 213 for more information.

The Appalachian Whitetail Association is a state chartered non-profit organization that is offered to all sportsman and their families. The Appalachian Whitetail Association focuses on 3 main issues. Preservation of the Whitetail Deer as a species. Preservation of quality habitat for all wildlife. And preserving the heritage of Whitetail Deer hunting in the Appalachian region and beyond. Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month starting at 7 PM in Kingsport at Mama’s House Buffet, 2608 N. John B Dennis Hwy. For more information on other locations, call (423) 247-6249.

Cherokee Rod & Gun Club, a Family Oriented Organization, meets on the first Thursday night of each month at 7 p.m. at the Clubhouse on Reservoir Road. Cherokee offers practice ranges for Pistol, Rifle, Archery, Trap & Skeet in addition to classes appropriate for all ages. Call (423) 247-6249 or visit www.cherokeerodandgunclub.com.

The Mountain Empire Tennis Association (META) is forming junior and adult social and competitive leagues. Membership is $10 for juniors, $15 for adults and $20 for families. Visit us on the web at www.meta-web.org or call (423) 282-4727 for info.

The East Tennessee State University Cycling Club meets regularly on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. at the dual slalom course at ETSU, gathering in the same area where the challenge will be held. Area cyclists with any level of experience and any bike, including mountain, road, BMX, trials or any other type are invited to ride with the group. For further information contact McIntyre at (423) 433-2294. 3-01 Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee with the Tri-City Ultimate Club. For information, please visit www.tricity-ultimate.tripod.com or call (423) 929-1446.

Christian Bass Anglers Association. Meets the second Monday of every month at the Blountville Court House in the upstairs courtroom. Meeting begins promptly at 7 p.m. All are invited to attend. For more information call (423) 246-7764.

Come join us for some fun! The East TN Mashers Ski club does more than just ski. We are a year round club engaged in a variety of activities for socialization, friendship, and charitable cause. Visit us at our website for the latest event/meetings schedule at etmn.net. For more information, email president@etmn.net or call Barb at (276) 275-3061.

The Senior Basketball league for adults 55+ will be held on Mondays with practice starting at 7 p.m. at the Slater Community Center gym. Fred Overbay is the coordinator. Call the Bristol Tennessee Leisure Services at (423) 764-4023 for more information.

Kingsport Bicycle Association has rides year round. All adult riders are welcome to this social / touring club. Call (423) 239-4406 or link to www.kba.tripod.com Support Groups You don’t have to wait for an overdose or jail sentence to get help from N.A. It is possible to overcome the desire to use drugs with the help of the Twelve Step Program of Narcotics Anonymous and the fellowship of recovering addicts. For more information call (866) 360-4929 or mana-e-tn.org Support Group for Individuals Experiencing Divorce. This support group is for anyone in the Tri-Cities area who has experienced divorce and/or the challenges of coparenting. For more information please contact Diana Puckett, BSW at (423) 737-4695 or (423) 952-2612.

OA – Overeaters Anonymous – A 12 step program for those with food problems, meets every Thursday at 7:30ppm at First Church of God in Bristol. Corner of E. State and Georgia Ave. For more information contact Christy at (423) 383-3541.

MidSouth Lupus Support Group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at WellCare, Ft. Henry Mall/Kingsport Town Center, 2101 Ft. Henry Dr. Kingsport at 5pm, light refreshments provided. For further information contact the Lupus Foundation of America, Mid-South Chapter. www.lupusmidsouth.org, or (877) 865-8787. Email: info@ lupusmidsouth.org. Volunteers are needed!!!

A new meeting of the peer group BRIDGES (Building Recovery and Individual Dreams and Goals through Education and Support) will begin at 7pm, at Wesley UMC, Room 107 every third Tuesday of each month. BRIDGES is a self-help program, facilitated to provide a safe atmosphere of respect, honesty and encouragement for persons managing mental illness/emotional conflict. For more information, call Jenny Roman at (865) 599-0481.

Do you know someone who/you had an abortion? If you are experiencing symptoms of Post-Abortion Syndrome, there is hope for healing and reconciliation. If you are ready to deal with your abortion, a qualified lay counselor can help you through the steps of healing. The PACE (Post Abortion Counseling and Education) program ministers to women who have been victimized by abortion, and is designed to lead them through the healing process of God forgiveness and love. PACE is a 12-week course offered by Pregnancy Resources, Inc. PACE allows a women the openness and encouragement she needs to work the healing process. The PACE groups are lead

NAMI “With Hope in Mind”/Bridges Support Groups, 7 p.m. Harrison Christian Church, Johnson City. Journey of Hope is open to family members and friends of those who suffer from a neurobiological brain disease. Bridges Support Group meets with “With Hope in Mind” before breaking off into a separate meeting. It is for mental health consumers of all diagnoses. For more information, call Shelby Ward at 543-4315.

In-Fuze Support Group Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Lee County Behavioral Health Services Support group members will learn the signs and symptoms of substance abuse; what to expect in the recovery process; and how substance abuse and dependence affects mental, physical, and spiritual development. The group will teach how to encourage recovery, about relapse and how to help maintain recovery, and will show family members how to care for themselves during their loved one’s recovery process. Call Frontier Health’s Martha Davis or Kathy Rowles at (276) 346-3590.

Lee County Foster Parent Support Group. A new support group is being formed for foster parents in Lee County to provide education, support, and information. Call Frontier Health’s Eric Greene, (276) 523-8300.

Women’s low self-esteem/social anxiety/shyness/domestic abuse support group. The purpose of the session is to provide support & healing through sharing common feelings & ideas. FREE. Please call (423) 794-8909 or (423) 929-7575. 100 W. Maple St. Johnson City.

Hepatitis C Support Group: near Tri-Cities airport, The Center for Digestive Wellness meets the first Tuesday from 6:30pm-8:30pm. The group is for people with Hepatitis C or B. Guest Speakers monthly. 10461 Wallace Alley Dr. Kingsport, TN. Contact Tracy Luther, FNP at (423) 279-1400.

Lupus Foundation of America Kingsport Area Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 914 Broad St. West Park Professional Bldg. Classroom #1 (Take elevator to lower level) Kingsport. For more information call (877) 865-8787.

Social Anxiety Disorder/Shyness support group meeting at the Bristol Library study room every Saturday from 10:00-11:30am. We are a group of individuals dealing with social anxiety who have come together to share our stories in a mutually supportive environment. You will not be ‘put on the spot’ or expected to join in. Feel free to just come and listens. Contact Tracy from more info: (276) 429-2338 or tracyw@ntelos.net

A.W.A.K.E. – N.E. Tennessee A.W.A.K.E. support group for people with sleep apnea, their family members, and friends. The group will be part of the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASSA) A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic) Network. The purpose of these sessions is to provide support through education and sharing of ideas and information among person affected by sleep disordered breathing. Together we can help each other with similar interests, problems, and solutions. Meetings held every other month in Johnson City and Erwin. Call Michelle at (423) 283-1003 for more information.

Hope House of Scott County, Inc. will be providing confidential weekly support groups for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. For more information call (276) 386-1313. Childcare will be provided.

Celebrate Recover. Every Sunday Evening. 6:00 p.m. Refreshments, 6:25 p.m. Celebration Service, 7:15 p.m.

Open Share Groups: Life Hurts for Women and Men, Issues for Women, Issues for Men, Chemically Dependent Men, Chemically Dependent Women, Codependent Women, Divorce recovery for Men and Women, CR 101 for those who are wondering how to get plugged in? What group is best for me? 9 p.m. Recovery Cafe. First Baptist Church, Kingsport, Fellowship Hall. For more information call (423) 247-4122

In a custody battle over your children and feel discouraged? Need a listening ear and support? I’m starting a support group for people going through this. Please call Camille at (423) 773-5862 if interested.

The “Young and the Breathless” a support group for persons with chronic lung disease, their friends and family are invited to attend our monthly meeting on the 4th Thursday of each month, at Wellmont Holston Valley Hospital, D-bldg., 4th level at 6 p.m. A featured speaker will present at each meeting. Light refreshments are provided. For more information, please contact Pulmonary Rehab at (423) 224-5800.

advocate for alleged abused and neglected children in the juvenile courts. CASA volunteers conduct investigations that help judges make the best decision for the safety and future of a child. Do you have a passion to help children fin a safe and secure home? CASA is looking for you! CASA volunteers receive extensive classroom training, mentorship with other volunteers and support from CASA for Kids, Inc. staff. Training classes are forming for May for the Bristol area; to find out how to become a CASA, contact Jan Marshall at (423) 652-1171.

24-Hour Hotline! Do you need to talk to someone? Someone who will listen without judgement, gives options instead of telling you what you should do? There is no “crisis” too big or too small. All you have to do is give The Crisis Center a call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Walk-ins welcome from 9am - 5 p.m. weekdays.

Celebrating 31 years of compassionate response to your needs. Volunteers welcome and all training is free!

Hotline: (276) 466-2312 or (276) 628-7731 Business Line” (276) 466-2218.

Adventa Hospice of Kingsport is in need of Volunteers. We currently need volunteers to visit patients and provide Companionship. Our patients are wonderful people and would be so happy to have somebody visit. Please call, Desiree Saunders, Volunteer Coordinator, at (423) 288-9777. We would love to have you join our team!

The BRIDGES program is based on the belief that those of us living with psychiatric symptoms can and do recover a new and valued sense of purpose by accepting and overcoming the challenges of a disability that has affected every aspect of our lives: physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. Support groups are being held in Johnson City, Kingsport (2), and coming soon Bristol. For more information please call (888) 539-0393

Hope House “Women’s Shelter” of Scott County, Inc. is seeking dedicated individuals to volunteer their time and assist with the Sexual Assault Specialist and Outreach Programs. Volunteers must reflect the county demographics and willingness to assist with the traditionally underserved populations of Scott and Lee counties. Individuals of color are encouraged to apply. For more information call (276) 386-1373. EOC

Widowed Persons’ Service Support Group. Monthly meetings, persons who have experienced widowhood are invited to attend the meeting. Call (423) 926-9101.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Bristol affiliate meets on the first Tuesday at 6:30pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church at 672 Island Rd. in Bristol. For information call (423) 234-2516.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - Johnson City area, meets second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., at Harrison Christian Church, Browns Mill Rd., JC. A support group for families and friends of those who suffer from mental illness. For more information call (423) 543-4315 or (423) 282-0676.

NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) of Kingsport for families who encounter mental illness meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7pm at First Baptist Church, 200 W. Church Circle, Kingsport (Room #304 in the Welcome Center located off Holston St.) Contact Connie Whaley at (423) 234-2516 or (866) 337-3291 for more information.

Tri-Cities Survivors of Suicide Support Group meets every 4th Monday at Johnson City Medical Center, 5th floor Conference Room from 6-8 p.m. Facilitator: Dorothy Gregory. For more information call (423) 224-1300.

We welcome family, friends, or anyone that has been affected by a suicide of someone they know and love.

SAFE House, Kingsport’s Domestic Violence Shelter, has a weekly support group for women and children who are victims of family violence. For more information call (423) 246-2273. All services are free and confidential.

Cancer Patients, caregivers and families are welcome to the Take Time support group, meeting the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Cedar Room of the Conference Center at Wellmont Hospital in Bristol. The group also meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in Kingsport at the Holston Valley-Wellmont Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Call Diane Cross at (423) 844-2180 or Kathy Visneshi at (423) 244-5592 for more information.

Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Support Group. Meets fourth Monday of each month at Colonial Heights Baptist Church. For more information, call Kathy Cassidy at (423) 224-5197.

Abingdon Resource Center, sponsored by Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia, is holding a Caregiver’s Support Group. The group will meet the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Abingdon Resource Center from 1-3 p.m. This group is designed to provide information and support to those in the community who are taking care of friends or family experiencing long term illness or disability. The Abingdon Resource Center is located on the second floor of the Ellis Professional Building, 211 West Main Street, Abingdon. Refreshments will be provided. For more information call (276) 628-4343.

Crisis Center is organizing several new support groups for victims of sexual violence. If you are an adult molested as a child, an adult rape survivor or the friend, spouse or other family member of someone who has been sexually assaulted, there is a group organizing now. There is no cost to attend and all meetings are confidential.

If interested contacted The Crisis Center, (276) 466-2218 or (276) 628-7731.

Volunteers Want to help people in your community while learning valuable life skills? Volunteer as a Hotline Worker for the Crisis Center’s 24/7 Crisis Hotline. Volunteers assist callers with emotional and personal crises, with crisis intervention along with information and referral to community agencies. 40 hours training offered in interactive classroom atmosphere. Must be over 18 and NO experience is necessary. Contact Micah Morris at (276) 4662312 or email at mmorris@crisiscenterinc.org Amedisys Hospice Care is looking for volunteers in Kingsport, Bristol, Blountville, Church Hill and Fall Branch. We have volunteer opportunities to visit patients and provide companionship (no patient care). Our patients are wonderful people. Please call 423-288-9777 and ask for the volunteer coordinator. We would love to have you join our team!

Appalachia Service Project Tri-Cities is seeking individual or group volunteers for home repair projects in the Tri-Cities area. ASP is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that fosters human development by addressing the housing needs of Central Appalachia. Projects range from wheel chair ramp construction to roof repair, prior construction experience is not required. If you or your club/group is interested in volunteering for a Saturday or a week long project please contact Amanda at (423) 854-8800 ext. 239 or email amanda.gastreich@asphome.org.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to ensuring that abused, abandoned, and neglected children have a voice in court. In many cases only stability in the lives of these children comes from their volunteer Advocate. We have a great need for more volunteer advocates to serve the children in our community. For more information please contact CASA of Northeast Tennessee, PO Box 1021, Johnson City, TN 37605, (423) 461-3500 or (423) 741-3181 Big Brothers Big Sisters are seeking volunteers who live or work in Washington County, VA. You must be 18 years of age or older. Being a Big Brother or Sister is a great way to make a difference in the life of a child in your community. You will be mentor, a friend, and a confidant to your little brother or sister. Contact Stephanie at 276-628-7053 or email stephaniebbbs@gmail.com to get started.

Give back to those individuals that have given so much, THE VETERANS. The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center has numerous volunteer positions available like visiting, assisting with the feeding, and escorting patients to and from other areas of the Medical Center as well as parking lot shuttle drivers. Other administrative/clerical positions are also available. Hours are flexible and no experience is needed. To find out more on how you can GIVE BACK, please contact the Voluntary Service Office at (423) 979-2891.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers are desperately needed in Bristol and Sullivan County to

Volunteers needed at local domestic violence, sexual abuse and homeless shelter program. Training provided for crisis calls, administrative assistant, direct services.

Marginalized underserved populations encouraged to apply. Call (423) 276- 386-1313 for application. EOC

SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business) Chapter 584 are looking for volunteers in the Northeast Tennessee area. SCORE is a non-profit nationwide organization staffed by active and retired businessmen and women who volunteer their time and services to offer free individual counseling in all areas of starting and improving a small business. Responsibilities of counselors include meeting with new and future business clients, to guide them on their way to starting or continuing with their business.

As a SCORE member, training in our policies and procedures is provided. New counselors will team with an experienced member. Volunteers also support out efforts using computer, computer maintenance, graphics, and web page creation skills and writing, proof reading, photography and general office skills. If you are interested in becoming a SCORE volunteer, please call our office (423) 461-8051 Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 12:00 noon. Our website address is scoretn.org and the email address is scoretn@wireco.net Northeast Tennessee SCORE, 2203 McKinley Rd. Johnson City, TN. 37604

The Crisis Center is accepting applications for Volunteer Hotline Workers, Sexual Assault Care Companions, Computer/Technical Office Assistant, and Board of Directors positions. The Crisis Center, Inc. is accredit by the American Association of Suicidology, Tennessee Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and is a participating member of: Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network, RAINN: sponsored by Lifetime TV for Women, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, The Virginia Sexual Assault Hotline, The National Domestic Violence Hotline. Intensive training and ongoing support provided to prepare the volunteer as they serve victims of crime and those facing life-changing crisis. Contact staff at (276) 466-2218, (423) 230-0900 or (276) 628-7731 for more information.

Volunteers to Touch Your World at King Benevolent Fund, a 501(c)-(3) ministry located in Bristol, VA. That serves the hungry, hurting and neglected here at home and around the world. We are looking for volunteers to help with cooking onsite meals, sorting various donations and packing items for shipment. Call our volunteer supervisor, Audrey Lambert, at (276) 466-3014, ext. 255 for further information.

Volunteers Needed: Tipton Haynes Historic Site, Johnson City. Our upcoming fall season has several opportunities for individuals interested in various activities. We are looking for people who have skills/abilities/interests in sewing costumes, portraying living historians of the antebellum era, gardening, and working “behind the scenes”.

For more information, please contact Penny McGlaughlin- director Tipton Haynes at (423) 926-3631 Hope house of Scott County, Inc. is in need of some male volunteers to help families that move from our shelter into independent living. For more information call (276) 386-1313

Volunteers are needed at a local domestic violence shelter. Answering the 24-hour crisis line, providing transportation, childcare, light housekeeping, yard work, minor repairs and assisting with residents’ needs. Training provided. For more information, please call Ann Jones at (888) 250-HEAL.

Have you always wanted to be a hero? Ever wonder how you can make a difference in your world? If you have just 10 hours a month to spare, you can be a hero by making a difference in a child’s life. Each year over one million children are abused and neglected and these children’s futures are put at risk. As a CASA you can stand up for these children and speak out for them, helping ensure these children find safe, permanent homes – something every child deserves. Be a hero. Volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and change the world; one child at a time. Call (276) 642-2344. Training classes are forming now.

Adventa Hospice Care is looking for volunteers in Kingsport, Bristol, Blountville, Church Hill and Gray. We have volunteer opportunities to visit patients and provide companionship (no patient care). Our patients are wonderful people and would be happy to have somebody visit them. Please call (423) 288-9777 and ask for a volunteer coordinator. We would love to have you join our team!

Volunteers needed. Can you give an hour a week to assist with parties, or bingo? Do you have a craft demonstration to share or a performance that would entertain? The Grand Court is looking for volunteers to add a spark to residents’ lives. If interested, call (276) 669-1111 and ask for Libby Bailey to find out more about how you can help.

Abuse Alternatives, Inc. of Bristol, serving victims of domestic violence is presently in search of volunteers to be trained to take Hotline calls and monitor the shelter/ clients on occasion during M-F, between 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and on Tues. 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. Also registering individuals & small groups for “on-call talent bank”, consisting of volunteers with special skills such as clerical, mentoring, parenting, tutoring, bi-lingual, budgeting/finances, organize donations & storage area, ability to help transport/ move clients into new residences, etc. For more info, please call (423) 652-9098.

Volunteers are needed at a local domestic violence shelter answering the 24-hour crisis line, providing transportation, childcare, light housekeeping, yard work, minor repairs and assisting with residents needs. Training is provided. For more information, please call Ann Jones at (888) 250-HEAL (4325).