theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
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on the cover
BucStock
Volume 31 • Issue #19 Publisher Luci Tate Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Patti Barr Shawn Hale Paul Kavanaugh Julie Noecker
Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com adcopy@theloaferonline.com All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/ or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.
Founder: Bill Williams Let’s Get Social!
16 Stargazer Yuri's Night Celebrates 56 Years of Spaceflight 17 Skies This Week 18 Batteries Not Included Blow-Up 20 Pop Life Power Rangers 22 Appalachian Wanderers Spring Wildflowers 23 The Casual Word Sniggling 24 Puzzle Page 27 Kelly’s Place 1967, Part One: The Myth Of Nostalgia
your week’s line-up
Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian Bishop Daniel Worley Jason Worley Langley Shazor
columns & reviews
Office Coordinator Amanda Lane
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BusStock Music Festival Uncanny Valley Hike The Hill J.P. Mathes & Fiddling Leona Community Easter Egg Hunt Walk A Mile In Her Shoes Once In A Lifetime Concert w/ Blue Highway Tom Savage's Interstate Breakdown Tour Regional Blood Drive Anne E. DeChant Returns Spotlight Crimes of the Heart Contra Dance Tim "Philharmonic" Carey Concert Pets Of The Week Things To Do
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Stage
AMPHITHEATER
Stage
QUAD
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Reagan Boggs
Kryss Dula & Friends
12:55pm-1:40pm
12pm-12:24pm
7 Mile Mushroom
2:45pm-3:30pm
Lauren Cole Band 1:50pm-2:25pm
Sterling Springs 3:40pm-4:25pm
Wise Old River 5:30pm-6:15pm
The 4th annual BucStock Outdoor Music Festival will be on Saturday, April 15th from noon to midnight in the Quad and Amphitheater on the ETSU campus. BucStock is a grass roots music festival that showcases local artists of all genres. In addition to incredible music, they will also be having food trucks and local craft vendors. Come and bring a blanket or lawn chair and your friends to an exciting day of fun and FREE entertainment hosted by Buctainment! Make sure to tag your involvement with #ETSU, #Bucstock, and #Buctainment!!!!
Beth Snapp
4:35pm-5:20pm
Jordan Copas
6:25pm-7:10pm
Special Appearance By Paul Bashor "DJ Paint Party" Falling Through April
7:20pm-8:05pm
Other Events Happening the Week of Bucstock Fun Friday Movie: Split Friday @ 7 pm in the D.P. Culp Auditorium Presented by: Buctainment
Hunter Grigg 8:15pm-9:00pm
Food Trucks/Vendors Setup in the middle parking lot between the stages Confirmed Food Trucks: Foodie Fiction Caribbean Grill Me & k
State of Sleep 9:10pm-9:55pm
www.etsu.edu/students/sorc/bucstock.php
Dustin Miller
10:05pm-10:50pm
Barter Theatre introduced “Uncanny Valley” on Thursday, April 6. The production runs until April 30 at Barter Stage II, staring Sean Maximo Campos and Mary Lucy Bivins.
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riginally coined by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori in 1970, the term “uncanny valley” describes a strange revulsion or unease toward things that appear nearly human, but are not. This freaked out feeling is usually geared towards robots, but can also include computer animations and animatronics. Consider that animation (in a movie or video game) that looks so realistic, that it nearly tricks the eye into believing that it is seeing actual human beings on screen. Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose says, “we’ve come along way since Mori’s essay, impressive progress has been made on the simulation of the human form--the skin, the movement, the looks and gestures and so on.” Rose adds, “Barter Theatre’s production begs the question, what does it mean to be human? Will these non-biological humanoids be perfect? Or perhaps infused with our own wonderful idiosyncrasies?” On stage, “Uncanny Valley” is a jaunt into the future where Claire, a neuroscientist, forms a relationship over time with Julian, a
non-biological human. Explore the painful divide between creator and creation and the inherent unpredictability of consciousness as the production redefines what it means to be human in the twenty-first century. Tickets for all performances begin at just $20. Barter Theatre is currently offering three productions for just $99 until April 28. The three for $99 subscription comes with subscriber benefits including 15 percent off additional tickets for friends and family. To purchase tickets, please visit bartertheatre. com or call 276-628-3991. Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, is located in Abingdon, Virginia. The theatre opened in 1933 during the Great Depression. Founder Robert Porterfield offered patrons admission to the theatre by bartering food and livestock. Barter Theatre was designated as the state theatre of Virginia in 1946. It exists today as one of the last year-round professional resident repertory theaters remaining in the United States. Barter Theatre is funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.
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theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
Uncanny Valley
Perceived realism meets familiarity and human likeness in the uncanny valley
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William King Museum of Art announces the inaugural “Hike the Hill” on April 15 from 11:30 - 3:30. is is an opportunity for WKMA to engage the active-lifestyle community in Abingdon and the broader Tri Cities region. For the 5K “hill loop” competitive run, prizes will be awarded in men’s and women’s open division for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and for all 1st winners in 4 di erent age divisions. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place runners in all divisions will receive one-ofa-kind clay award medals created by WKMA resident sculpture Lynn Price.
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he 5K will begin at 1 p.m., and will be followed by a non-competitive 3K, family-, stroller-, and pet- friendly run/walk at 2 p.m. Enty fee for the competitive 5K is $25 or $35 if registering at WKMA the day of the event, and $15 for the 3K. Preregistration link is on WKMA’s Facebook page. Participants will receive a HTH tee shirt, car decal, bottled water to hydrate, and healthy snacks from local business partners. ey can also purchase ra e tickets for the chance to win prizes, including Food City 500 box sit race tickets. Local health organizations, clubs, and businesses will set
up information tables to promote their health-related products and services. We will also have a DJ and food truck. We Run Events is working with WKMA to manage race logistics. HTH is sponsored by Johnston Memorial Hospital WKMA is a registered 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to develop original contemporary and ne art exhibitions that celebrate the diversity of artistic talent and current trends in our region; to preserve the cultural heritage of the region through original exhibitions and our permanent archives; and to provide an extensive
arts education program that serves school and public audiences both inside and outside of the Museum. WKMA is located at 415 Academy Drive, o West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the William King Museum of Art is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the Virginia Association of Museums and is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.williamkingmuseum. org or call 276-628-5005.
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
At Carter Family Fold
J.P. Mathes & Fiddling Leona
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Saturday, April 15th, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by J.P. Mathes and Fiddling Leona and their group The Mountain Empire. Also featured on the show will be students from the Hazard Community and Technical Colleges Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music and their Program Director Dean Osborne, Jr. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free
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.P. and Fiddling Leona have performed their music across North America, Europe, and Japan as ambassadors of not only bluegrass music, but the food and culture of Appalachia. The Mountain Empire features J.P. on banjo, Leona on fiddle, Jason Crawford on mandolin, Aaron Jackson on guitar, and David Babb on upright bass. The Kentucky School of Bluegrass Ensemble - Straight Up Lonesome - will be performing on the show. The group consists of new, young up and coming bluegrass musicians from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Straight Up Lonesome features the music of KSBTM Program Director Dean Osborne, Jr. – a member of one of the best known families in bluegrass music. Dean grew up on the music of the
Osborne Brothers. For some of the finest bluegrass music the southeast has to offer, don’t miss all these fine musicians. Come out and enjoy a night of high energy music and good times with your friends and neighbors at the historic Carter Family Fold. There will be traditional bluegrass tunes, lively fiddle tunes and instrumentals, gospel tunes, and beautiful harmony. Don’t forget your dancing shoes! For further information on the center, go to our web sites www.carterfamilyfold. org or www.carterfamilyfold.com. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold volunteer staff member, call 276-594-0676.
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• Prize Give Aways: A Family Package of Season Passes to Dollywood - Mini iPad Bikes - Basketball Goal - Easter Baskets and much more! • Egg Hunt: 3 Egg Hunts for 3 age groups (20,000 Easter Eggs stuffed w/ candy and prizes). Free • Food: Hot Dogs & Chili, Chips, Drinks, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Snow Cones & Cookie Decorating with Food City’s Bakery • Family Photos with the Easter Bunny • Large Inflatables & Face painting for Kids Additional Sponsors: Texas Roadhouse, 2 Ton Tattoo Gallery, Express Oil Change . For more more information contact: Chad Roberts 423-967-5997 or chadpcc@gmail.com
Men from throughout the community are invited to “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” at East Tennessee State University on Thursday, April 13.
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his special “race” is an International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence. It is intended to honor and celebrate the resiliency of survivors of relationship, sexual and gender violence. Participating men will don high heels for the march through campus, which begins at 6 p.m. at the D. P. Culp University Center’s Cave patio. Ladies may participate, too, but will be allowed to wear sneakers. Individuals and groups are encouraged to pre-register and can do so by sending an email to oasis@etsu.edu to obtain a registration form. Cost to participate is $5. Heels will also be available to rent for an additional $5, or men can bring their own. Registration and shoe pick-up will take place from 5-6 p.m. For more information, contact the ETSU Counseling Center at oasis@etsu.edu or 423-439-4841. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
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his event is FREE and open to everyone. It is primarily designed for families to come and enjoy a Spring day together. Last year, we estimate that 4,000 attended this event. We had 500 registration cards per family and ran out within the first 20 minutes of the event. This year, we are eliminating registration cards to make it easier for families to get in.
In Her Shoes
Walk A Mile
Community Easter Egg Hunt
Hop To It
Food City and Preaching Christ Church partner for the 5th consecutive year to offer the Tri-Cities a community Easter Egg hunt on April 15th from 11am - 2pm. This event offers 20,000 eggs for children to hunt in the field of Andrew Johnson Elementary School beside the Castle Park.
Blue Highway
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To Host Once In A Lifetime Concert
Sizzling hot off a 2017 GRAMMY Nomination for Best Bluegrass Album, powerhouse super group Blue Highway will host a first-of-its-kind All Request Fan Appreciation Concert on Saturday, April 15, at Emory & Henry College in Meadowview, VA.
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ans have two options of Show Times at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, with tickets available At the Door or On-line at www.BlueHighwayBand.com. Celebrating 23 years and their loyal fans, Blue Highway has a high energy show planned with special Surprise Guests even scheduled to perform with the band. The show’s format is All Request, with the band performing the Top 20-25 Songs voted by their fans. Four sections have Sold Out, but great seats remain in seating sections named after Blue Highway’s most popular songs like Sycamore Hollow, Keen Mountain, and V-Bottom Boat. Workshops with the award-winning members of Blue Highway will also be held on the All attending are eligible for Door Prizes of Blue Highway swag, plus two Grand campus of Emory & Henry on Friday, April 14, at 6:00 and 7:30 pm. Workshops include Banjo, Prizes will be given away of a Blue Highway Festival Chair and special Box Set of Dobro, Fiddle / Mandolin, Guitar, and Songwriting. the band’s 11 studio albums. Tickets, Workshop Registration, and Full Details about the event are all available on the Fans will also witness Blue Highway recording their first Live Album during band’s website at www.BlueHighwayBand.com/Fan-Appreciation-Concert. Saturday's two shows. All-you-can-eat Buffets are only $6 for Lunch and $8 for Dinner, but must be purchased in advance on-line at www.BlueHighwayBand.com.
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om Savage is what one might refer to as a triple-threat. One part truth-telling troubadour, one part death-defying guitar slinger, and one part Country Blues howler. Each facet of his formidable on-stage persona carefully crafted over a 20+ year devotion to the composition and performance of song. Tom is a true believer. A disciple of melody and harmony and tempo and timbre. An evangelist preaching to anyone who will listen of the healing and meditative powers of music. Pouring his heart out of his throat every night, while simultaneously shredding his fingertips in his relentless assault on the beat-up 1966 Guild acoustic he adores. Catch Tom at Acoustic Coffeehouse, April 16th.
Marsh Regional Blood Drives
Marsh Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the following locations: • Tuesday, April 11, 7:30am-3:00pm, Eastman Building 280, Kingsport, TN • Tuesday, April 11, 7:30am-2:30pm, Cloudland High School, Roan Mountain, TN • Tuesday, April 11, 8:00am-3:00pm, Domtar, Kingsport, TN • Wednesday, April 12, 9:00am-11:30am, Highlands Community Services, Abingdon, VA • Wednesday, April 12, 9:00am-4:00pm, Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, VA • Wednesday, April 12, 1:00pm-5:00pm, Joy Global, Abingdon, VA • Thursday, April 13, 7:30am-2:30pm, Sullivan North High School, Kingsport, TN • Thursday, April 13, 8:00am-2:00pm, Hampton High School, Hampton, TN • Thursday, April 13, 1:00pm-6:00pm, Food City, Big Stone Gap, VA • Friday, April 14, 7:30am-4:00pm, Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol, TN • Friday, April 14, 11:00am-3:00pm, Wendy’s, Abingdon, VA For more information, please call 423-408-7500, 423-652-0014 or 276-679-4669 or visit www.marshblood.com.
Got an event coming up? Send it to The Loafer! info@theloaferonline.com
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theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
Interstate Breakdown Tour
Tom Savage
Canadian guitarist and songwriter, Tom Savage, is embarking on another tour of the Eastern US, and bringing his high-energy show and big guitar sound to stops from Portland, Maine to Nashville, Tennessee and points in between.
Returns to The Acoustic Coffeehouse
Anne E DeChant theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
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Touring Americana artist Anne E DeChant returns to The Acoustic Coffeehouse Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The show starts at 8pm on the back patio stage at 415 W Walnut St., Johnson City, TN 37604. There is no cover charge but tips are encouraged and CD's and other merchandise will be available. More information can be found at http://acousticcoffeehouse. net/ or by calling (423) 434-9872.
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he Nashville, TN. resident tours the Eastern part of Tennessee and Western area of North Carolina a couple of times a year. The first time she played the coffeehouse was in August 2015. She brought “Watermelon Wine: The Poetry of Americana Music” with author Frye Gaillard to the Down Home in October 2016. This will be DeChant’s first time playing on the patio but looks forward to bringing back her solo, acoustic show to this eclectic venue. DeChant's most recent CD “The Sun Coming In,” has charted in the top 10 on multiple Roots Music Report charts including a #1 on the “Alternative Folk Song Chart” and a #6 on the Top 50 Ohio Album Chart. In 2016 she opened for Melissa Etheridge at Cain Park in Cleveland and wrote, recorded and performed the theme song for the 2016 Transplant Games of Cleveland. Anne E. DeChant first caught the attention of music fans as the charismatic front woman of Cleveland's Odd Girl Out. Following the band's breakup, she went on to a busy solo career, producing seven albums. The title track from her 2007 release, "Girls and Airplanes" was featured in the film, “The Hot Flashes”, starring Brooke Shields and Wanda Sykes and in the 2013 documentary, “The Vetters, All We Needed.”
More information about Anne E can be found at the following sites; Official Website: http://www.anneedechant.com www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-E-DeChant-Band Twitter: @anneedechant
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theloaferonline.com | March 28, 2017
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Spotlight
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- TUESDAY - April 11th -
If you or your band are playing in the upcoming week and would like to be in The Spotlight, call in advance to (423) 283-4324 or go online to: theloaferonline.com. Due to last minute cancellations or changes, please call the location to confirm.
- SATURDAY - April 15th -
- FRIDAY - April 14th -
Open Mic Wolf Hills Brewing
Shooter Holston River Brewing Company
Malcolm Holcombe Down Home
Downtown Country Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria
Jon Chambers The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
Nightshift Band Country Club of Bristol
Laura Thurston / Mercer and Johnson Acoustic Coffeehouse
Chuck Brodsky Down Home
Acoustifried Sonny’s Cafe
Southern Cities Yee Haw Brewing Company
Mark Larkins Thompson’s Produce
The Rhythm Revue Sonny’s Cafe
EC Frazier Our House Restaurant
Rhythm Brewers Our House Restaurant
Ali Randolph & The Outta Luck Band Country Club Bar & Grill
Below 7 Country Club Bar & Grill
Rusty Steel w/ Quarter Bounce Rio’s Grill & Sports Bar
The Phoenix Band Chilhowee Lion’s Club
The Grand Ole Uproar Damascus Brewery
Rusty Steel w/ Quarter Bounce O’Mainnin’s Pub
Dan Holt Acoustic Coffeehouse
The Kindest People, Floyd Strange and US, IF Capone’s
Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse
Erin Powers / Dada Caberet Acoustic Coffeehouse
The Diamonds Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse
Juke Box Boys CJ’s Sports Bar
ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band Old Time Celtic & Country Music Celebration With David Holt Paramount Center for the Arts
J.P. Mathis & Fiddlin Leona Carter Family Fold
- WEDNESDAY - April 12th Sammy Guns / Jesse Lewis / Alex Baughman The Hideaway Railway Express 50Fifty Sports Tavern Open Mic The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room Open Mic Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria Ann E. Dechant/Bunch Acoustic Coffeehouse
- THURSDAY - April 13th Mercer and Johnson Yee Haw Brewing Company Jam w/ Tom Peterson & Bill Perkins Wellington’s Restaurant Reign The Hideaway Amethyst Kiah & The Paisley Fields The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room Rusty Clark Model City Tap House Mark McHenry Acoustic Coffeehouse Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse Nostalgia Duo Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
- FRIDAY - April 14th The Kindest People / Park of the Problem Sterling Springs Capone’s These are the Angles / Mind Modes The Hideaway JV Squad Studio Brew
- SATURDAY - April 15th amajay Wild Wing Cafe Below 7 w/ Elijah Feelgood Capone’s Rusty Steel w/ Quarter Bounce Rio’s Grill & Sports Bar Capital Gains The Hideaway
Blue Highway Emory & Henry College
- SUNDAY - April 16th Daniel Wilson & The Courter Deck Crew Sonny’s Cafe Tom Savage Music / T.V. Mike& The Scarecrows Acoustic Coffeehouse Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse
- MONDAY - April 17th -
Cory Branan The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
Open Mic Acoustic Coffeehouse
Victor Lawson w/ Boogie Chillin’ Studio Brew
Open Mic Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Shooter Holston River Brewing Company
for show time & more details, visit
theloaferonline.com
Country Club of Bristol 6045 Old Jonesboro Rd. Bristol 423-652-1700
Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 3119 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423-262-0444
Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon VA 276-623-0037
Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr. Bristol VA 276-466-4100
Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One Street Gray, TN 423-282-9440
CJ’S Sports Bar 516 Morelock St. Kingsport 423-390-1361
Model City Tap House 324 E Market St. Kingsport 423-765-0875
Tuesday, Apr. 11th • Acoustic Coffeehouse Thursday, Apr. 12th •Yee Haw Brewing Co.
Mercer and Johnson
Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423-844-0400
Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN
KARAOKE
TUESDAY Karaoke w/ Tina and West at Dawg House Tavern Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez & Open Mic Entertainment at Holston River Brewing Company Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at New Beginning’s Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzaria *********************** FRIDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaokeat CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke at BoBo’s - Damascus VA Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW - Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Moe’s Original BBQ at Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Los Amigo's - Kingsport TN *********************** SATURDAY Karaoke at The Horseshoe Lounge Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN ***********************
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SPOTLIGHT DIRECTORY
Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423-434-9872
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
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Yuri's Night Celebrates 56 Years of Spaceflight
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Stargazer
By Mark Marquette since 1996 stargazermarq@ gmail.com
A world-wide celebration of man's first spaceflight 56 years ago this week has begun, culminating in “Yuri's Night” April 12. That's the date when Russian Yuri Gagarin was blasted off Earth into orbit to become the first spaceman.
here will be tens of thousands of space geeks celebrating in 50-plus venues on all seven continents: from Planetarium Stuttgart in Germany to the Indian Heights School, New Delhi, India to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC to the Spruce Goose Coffee Shop in Medellin Antioquia, Columbia. Yes, there will even be a toast to Gagarin at the B3 Lounge at South Pole, Anta rctica! That Wednesday morning in 1961, at 9:07 a.m., a Vostok-K rocket with the Vostok 1 spaceship propelled a 27-year-old former fighter pilot into eternal fame, and started a Space Race between the Superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States. Five decades later, Russians and Americans work side-by-side aboard the International Space Station 250 miles above Earth. And today, the very same launch pad from which Gagarin’s Vostok 1 was launched is still being used to launch the manned Soyuz TMZ spacecraft to the space station. Scheduled to blast off April 20th are Expedition 51 crew members Fyodor Yurchikhin and Jack Fischer . They will join Expedition 50 crew members NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will take over command of the station, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet and cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency. To make room aboard the ISS, three spacefliers are scheduled to return to Earth on April 10. They are U.S. Commander Shane Kimbrough and Russian Flight Engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko, who have been living in space since October 19. Fifty-six years after Gagarin's first flight, living in space has become a daily routine that is taken for granted. It’s no surprise that today’s astronauts and cosmonauts are unknown to all but the avid space geeks. Reminders of the unforgiving environment of outer space are the in-flight deaths of 18 space adventurers aboard the USSR’s Soyuz 1 and Soyuz 11, and the American Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia. Gagarin's spaceflight is so crude by today's standards that modern-day astronauts (and cosmonauts) might find it to be crazy to attempt. The space capsule of Vostok was designed for a ballistic reentry, and once safely through the fiery ride through the atmosphere, Gagarin ejected from the spacecraft and landed with his own parachute. The fact that Gagarin didn't ride his spacecraft down to the surface was a secret the Soviets kept for decades. Gagarin and the six cosmonauts to fly Vostok, including the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkov, were all
ejected and parachuted to safety. In fact, the exact details of the early years of the Russian space program were shielded from the rest of the world. It was only after the historic detente agreements of the 1990s, and the crumbling of the Communist regime of the Soviet Union, that the truth came out. Even today, as astronauts and cosmonauts cross-train at their space centers, they share more stories about the history of early spaceflight. The first American to orbit Earth was the late John Glenn, who did land safely inside his Mercury spacecraft called “Friendship 7” after three orbits in February 1962. Glenn was deemed by NASA such a valuable spokesman for the Space Race that he was taken off the active flight roster and sent on goodwill trips around the world, fearing he could be killed in future missions. That wasn’t the case for Gagarin. He was back-up pilot to the ill-fated Soyuz 1 spaceflight that killed his friend Vladimir Komorov during reentry in April 1967. Gagarin then joined Alexi Leonov as the two cosmonauts who were tapped to go to the Moon. Everything changed on March 27, 1968 when Gagarin himself was killed when a two-seater MiG-15 fighter jet he was flying with Vladimir Seryogin, crashed outside a small town near Moscow during a routine training flight. Gagarin’s ashes were placed in a niche in the Kremlin wall, while his hometown of Gzhatsk was renamed Gagarin in his honor. Why Gagarin’s fighter jet crashed has been the subject of wild theories for more than 40 years. Everything from being hung-over to UFOs snatching him have circulated, with a failed jet part being the most believable. In 2013, Leonov, the first human to walk in space in 1965, offered the final answer from declassified files: a second, experimental jet, the Su-15 jet, mistakenly flew too close to Gagarin’s jet, around 2,000 feet. The large aircraft’s jet wake actually rolled over the MiG-15, Gagarin lost control and fatally crashed in a forest. Leonov, now 82, is free to reveal declassified information from the early days of Russia’s space program. This includes his role as the man chosen to land on the Moon in a Zond spacecraft, the size of an old telephone booth with a rocket. He was to scoop up samples, take photos and get back inside for a quick blast-off to the orbiting mother ship. He has publicly called the Zond spacecraft a suicide mission. Two names will last an eternity in the history of spaceflight: Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong. Most Americans will remember John Glenn, the first to orbit Earth-and ride his spacecraft to an ocean splashdown. The Russian is the first man in space 56 years ago on April 12, 1961; the American is the first man to walk on the Moon just eight years later on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, there have been 520 other humans blasted off Earth into the great unknown of outer space in the first half-century of the Space Age. With certainly more to come. So enjoy “Yuri’s Night” and just how far the Space Age has matured in the 21st Century. To see all the celebrations around the world—and in America— google the Internet “yurisnight.net!”
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lanet Jupiter is the “star” of the night sky from now until late Summer. You can’t miss the giant of our Solar System, shining brilliant yellow above the pearly white star Spica, both in the constellation Virgo the Virgin. And it’s Easter Week, as that lunar eclipse Full Moon of Tuesday determines the Holy Days: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday (April 16) after the first Full Moon (Tuesday, April 11) after the first day of Spring (March 20). Full Moons of April have the nicknames of Pink, Sprouting Grass, Egg and Fish moons.
Tuesday, April 11 Jupiter isn’t the only planet in the night sky. Mars is still in Taurus, setting 2 hours after the Sun. And Saturn is rising in the east and easily seen after 2 pm in Sagittarius, the middle of our Milky Way. The Moon will be beside the ringed world on April 17th. Wednesday, April 12 On this 1961 date in space history, Yuri Gagarin was rocketed into Earth orbit, the first human in space. Celebrated by tens of thousands around the world, check out events for “Yuri’s Night” on the website yurisnight.net. Thursday, April 13 Leo the Lion rises high in the east, its stars very easy to find: the head and mane are a backward question mark dotted by bright, yellow star Regulus; and the hindquarters are a right triangle of three equally bright stars. Friday, April 14 Interested in amateur astronomy? The best place to start is the fellowship of Bristol Astronomy Club at 7 pm at the Burke Observatory
on the campus of King University. Bring your telescope and member will show you how to use it! Saturday, April 15 Stargaze at Bays Mt. Park in Kingsport with amateur astronomers as your guide at their “StarWatch.” Beginning before dark at 8 pm, the stargazing lasts until 10 pm and is free to the public. Sunday, April 16 Easter Sunday. There are 11 bright stars to dazzle the early evening, but eight will be setting between 10-11 pm, those in the Winter constellations of Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Auriga, Canis Major and Canis Minor. Monday, April 17 Looking north you can’t miss the most popular of all star patterns, the Big Dipper, which is just a part of the huge constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear. The outside bowl stars point to the North Star, Polaris, which is the end star of the handle of the Little Dipper, part of Ursa Minor.
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
THIS WEEK
SKIES
Celestial events in the skies for the week of April 11 - 17, 2017 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. 17
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BLOW-UP
1966’s “Blow-Up,” directed by Michelangelo Antonioni (his first English film), is both timeless and a perfect time capsule of 1960s mod London at its zenith.
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low-Up” was produced and released by MGM, one of the first major studio films to feature sexually explicit material and nudity. This was a direct fly against the production code which was still in place. “Blow-Up” was a critical and commercial success, which helped to start dismantle the quickly growing old code, showing that audiences were ready for Hollywood to “grow up.” Within two years the production code would be replaced with the ratings system we still have today.
Batteries Not Included
By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com
"Blow-Up” is a day in the life of a successful fashion photographer (David Hemmings), who lives moment to moment, chasing the perfect visual. Jetting around London in his expensive convertible, with a private messaging service to keep up with this busy life. Despite having all the trappings of a glamorous lifestyle around him, with
everything he could ever want, he’s found life boring. Telling his agent at one point “I’ve gone off London.” After a morning spent shooting models, he goes out to shoot a few landscapes in a local park, where he focuses his lense on a couple he sees walking around.
The female pair of the couple (Vanessa Redgrave) notices this going on and chases after the photographer, incensed that her picture was taken. Our photographer shrugs her off and goes on with his jet-setting day. Later she shows up at his home/studio, demanding the negatives, to which he agrees but actually substitutes for a roll of unexposed film. Having satisfied the mysterious female, he develops what he shot in the park, and notices he that he might have more than just a couple’s stroll in the park. He might have photographed a murder. “Blow-Up” has an beautiful color pallet that really stands out in the new blu-ray release by The Criterion Collection. The blu-ray features an incredible restoration created from both the 35mm original camera negative, and a 35mm interpositive. The soundtrack, with a jazz score by the great Herbie Hancock--and a cameo in the film by rock band The Yardbirds, from that short era in which both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page were in the band--sounds clear and sharp, restored from the first generation magnetic 24 track elements. Criterion has packed their edition of “Blow-Up” with numerous special features including archival interviews with both its director and cast. Trailers, featurettes, and a 2016 documentary
on the making of the film, plus a book that includes essays, and the short story the film is loosely based on. The most amazing, and I don’t want to call it a trick but for a lack of better words I shall say trick, that “Blow-Up” pulls off is how deeply dated it is, set in Swinging 1966 London, but still feels fresh and not dated at the same time. One of the best films to have come out of the 1960s, “Blow-Up” is a must, especially in this new blu-ray edition from The Criterion Collection. A must own.
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Power Rangers
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(Rated PG-13) 3 Power Rangers (out of 4)
It's morphin time movie fans! Yes, the Power Rangers have returned to a local theater near you. "Saban's Power Rangers" is the third theatrical film to feature the pop icons from the 1990's. It seems like eons since the last big screen outings featuring the multi-colored heroes, and this effort is a reboot of the franchise
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Pop Life
By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com
f you are among the clueless when it comes to the Power Rangers, let's just say some present day teens unearthed the Power Coins, a colorful collection of stones which provide the power source for the Rangers. The Power Rangers actually were on Earth during prehistoric times, and protected life on Earth along with the Zeo Crystal, which can be used by those with bad intentions to destroy worlds. Enter the newly revived Rita Repulsa (love the name!), played by Elizabeth Banks. Rita is out to find the Zeo Crystal and use it to destroy all life on Earth. Just prior to Rita's return, the Rangers were in training to become Power Rangers in an alien ship they discovered beneath a mine. The Rangers in training are as follows: Kimberly Hart/Pink Ranger (Namoi Scott); Billy Cranston/Blue Ranger (RJ Cyler); Trini Kwan/Yellow Ranger (Becky G); Jason Scott/Red Ranger (Dacre Montgomery); and Zack Tayor/Black Ranger (Ludi Lin). There is also a robot on hand for good measure called Alpha 5, who plays a major role in training the Rangers. Of course being teens, teenage angst is abundant among the Rangers, along with parental issues. When the teens are fully realized as Power Rangers they have full access to the Zords, mechanical devices the Rangers can pilot for use in battle. The Zords can link together and form the Megazord, a huge humanoid robot. Are the uninitiated still keeping up with me? If not, just pretend. When Ms. Repulsa has created her enormous minion Goldar, formed from gold, she is ready to begin her attack. Goldar is nothing to be trifled with as the Rangers soon discover. Speaking of the Rangers, they are a group of diverse teens that would be at home on any of the shows on The CW television network. In fact the Red Ranger, played by the aforementioned Montgomery, reminded me of Zac Efron lite. Eventually the multi-colored teens and the bad toothed Repulsa meet in a show down that nearly destroys the town they are trying to save. At least in this film, often besieged New York City and Los Angeles are spared. The film features plenty of witty exchanges from the actors, and Banks is given plenty of opportunities to revel in her portrayal of the dastardly Rita Repulsa. The actors who portray the Rangers are believable, considering the material they are presented, and seem to be having a blast. This is one movie you really need to take for what it is, nothing more than B-movie escapism. I was shocked this film was not presented in the 3D, as the film would have benefited from being seen in the format. I'm sure Ranger fans will have some mixed feelings about this film, but no one can argue the rebooted "Saban's Power Rangers" benefits from having a $100 million dollar budget.
N
ow that contra dance has become so popular all over this country, there are many step-by-step guides on how to do contra dance on the internet. “Even though we teach a brief workshop prior to the dance, there are other resources including contra dance videos, essays and other instruction available all over the web” states event organizer David Wiley. “We also encourage newcomers to partner with experienced dancers for the first few dances to build their confidence and show them how easy and fun contra dancing is”. You can bring the whole family to dance. Tempest blends traditional tunes with inventive, progressive grooves and harmonies that draw from jazz, world music,
7:30-10:30 pm with a waltz and Klondike Bar break at 9:00pm. Coming to Jonesborough to perform for the dance will be East Coast touring band Tempest. Calling for the dance will be the Rich Goss from Portland, Oregon.
and pop/R&B. Originally formed in 2009 by Tim Ball and Chuck Abell as a contra dance band, their repertoire has expanded to include jazz standards, blues, folk songs, Irish fiddle tunes, and more. Tempest core band is Chuck Abell (guitars, mandolin) and Tim Ball (fiddle), plus Harry Aceto (bass). Over the last 8 years, in addition to being a staple on the regional dance scene, Tempest has toured up and down the East Coast and in New England, receiving rave reviews at such venues as Glen Echo, the Concord Scout House, the Greenfield Grange, and the Old Farmer's Ball in Asheville. Tempest has also performed at the Rochester Thanksgiving Weekend, the Cornell Dance Series, the Syracuse University dance series, the Bard College swing club, and most recently, the first CDR Extreme English Dance in Rochester. Come as you are; wear soft flexible shoes for dancing. Come to dance, join the potluck dinner or just to listen. No partner is necessary. All dances are taught. As always, our dances are smoke and alcohol free. Admission to the dance is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 students and children. Families with their own children are all admitted for only $15. For further information call event organizer, David Wiley, at 423-534-8879 or visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety. org or Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.
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in for a Jonesborough Contra Dance!
Tempest Storms
The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will present a community contra dance on Saturday April 15, 2017 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street. Class for beginning contra dancers will happen at 7:00 pm. The dance will run from
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Spring Wildflowers
Springtime is a very unpredictable season for us in East Tennessee. Warm, sunny days can quickly shift back to winter as severe storms swoop through, followed by snow and freezing temps. Soft breezes which make ideal kite-flying weather can whip up into devastating tornadoes within minutes. Budding leaves begin to take away some of the dull winter grays, but with them comes allergy season for many. Despite the erratic weather, this is one of the most beautiful times of the year to get out and enjoy the outdoors thanks to the plethora of wildflowers which cover the forest floor and sweep across open fields.
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Appalachian Wanderers
By Jason & Daniel Worley jdworley@ theloaferonline.com
Springtime hikes will show the East Tennessee trails popping with colorful flowers during April and May.
ere in Appalachia, we have several full months to enjoy the blossoms. They begin in the sheltered valleys and along moist streams in March. The delicate flowers of bloodroot, spring beauty, and trailing arbutus are the first to poke through the leaf litter, sometimes as early as February. The real party starts in mid-April and continues into the first part of May. During this time the lower and mid elevations are home to trilliums, bleeding hearts, orchids, Solomon’s seal, foam flower, phlox, and dozens of other species. May brings lady’s slippers, cardinal flower, butterfly weed, flame azalea, and mountain laurel. If you missed the April blooms, all you need to do is go to the higher elevations. June wraps up the spring blooms with rhododendron and the flame azalea blooms on the higher peaks and balds. April is by far the best month for wildflower hikes, and we’ve chosen several of our favorite hiking locations where a variety of species are guaranteed. Just a half hour from Johnson City lies Roan Mountain State Park. Twelve miles of hiking trails crisscross through the forests and campgrounds, providing ample opportunity to find different species. The two-mile Moonshiner’s Run Trail follows the frolicking Doe River. Wildflowers love the moist environment near the water and can be found in great abundance here. Forest Road Trail is the longest in the park at just under three miles. While not as easy as the previous trail, the extra work to complete the trail is well rewarded with carpets of blooms which blanket the forest floor.
Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area is one of our largest state parks, with over 20,000 protecting one of the most pristine areas of the Cumberland Mountains. Probably our favorite state park, the slopes erupt in a riot of blooms each year which bring hundreds of visitors to the park’s more than fifty miles of backcountry trails. This preserve really is an underappreciated gem of our park system, offering camping, hiking, waterfalls, scenic views, amazing fall foliage, fishing, and biking in an environment that rivals the Smokies with almost none of the crowds. Almost any trail you choose in the park during the next month is sure to provide amazing blooms. Sheltered stream valleys and north-facing slopes tend to hold the most moisture, and therefore are the best places to look. Panther Branch Trail begins near the park’s main campground and follows its namesake stream. As an added bonus, the trail passes two waterfalls and a short spur trail grants access to a third. Springtime has these flowing at full capacity, so make the time to stop by Debord Falls for sure. The North Old Mac Trail climbs the ridge high above Panther Branch; its four miles make a leisurely climb up the main ridge of the park. Trillium, trout lily, and wild columbine are just a few of the species you’re sure to find here. If you’re not sure where to hike in the park and would like an introduction to the area, the park is holding several wildflower hikes in the park this coming weekend on the 15th and 16th. These are led by park rangers and naturalists who are very knowledgeable and can provide info on the history
and importance of each species. Another hike is scheduled for May 20th when the mountain laurel is at its peak. All these hikes are free and open to the public! Visit www.tnstateparks. com/parks/about/frozen head to find more information. Of course, the best place in the state to find wildflowers is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This year is special, compared to most, as the park is still recovering from the massive wildfires which swept through the area last fall. Several hiking trails, such as Chimney Tops, Road Prong, and Sugarland Mountain, still remain closed. It’s best to check the park’s official website at www.nps.gov/grsm before visiting to see which trails are affected. It will be interesting to see how nature reclaims its hold on the charred landscape over the next few months. The majority of the park saw no damage, so favorite wildflower trails such as Chestnut Top, Schoolhouse Gap, Little River, and Porters Creek all remain and are as lush and green as ever. If you want to avoid some of the crowds there are several overlooked trails which have just as many blooms. Roundtop and Little Greenbrier trails in Tremont, Old Sugarlands Trail just outside Gatlinburg, and Kanati Fork Trail in North Carolina all stand out as amazing wildflower trails. Wherever you decide to go, be sure to remember the number one rule of the outdoors: Take only photos and leave only footprints.
By Langley Shazor Follow Langley at TheCasualWord
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is early studies were with Harold Parker in Chelmsford, Essex and later, with the great Hungarian pianist, Louis Kentner, in London. He won scholarships to the Royal College of Music, London, studying with Kendall Taylor, David Parkhouse, and Bernard Roberts. He was awarded many prizes and scholarships during his time there, both in and outside college. As an orchestral keyboard player he has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Bournemouth Orchestras, the Philharmonia, the Ulster Orchestra in Northern Ireland and the BBC Concert Orchestra. He continues to find himself much in demand as a teacher and accompanist throughout his home county of Essex, as well as accompanist at most of London's music colleges. Whilst piano playing has taken Mr. Carey all over the world, his other interests include reading, languages, anything to do with cars, aircraft and boats, as well as spending time with his ever-increasing family! Please join us for this exceptional musical evening by the delightful and personable Tim Carey, Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 7 p.m. at theFirst Baptist Church, Bristol, VA For additional information contact Art or Charlotte Ellis, 423-323-4933.
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
In love And infinitely Humoured Cause life is about smiles We make enough for a town But we only need enough For us And for us That is enough So pounce on me And let me poke your side Hold me While I kiss you Cause this is a life Worth enjoying At any moment And any space And that space Only matters As long as you occupy it
Makes the piano sound like an entire symphony.
The Casual Word
I wake up You jumping on the bed Kids at heart Love when you surprise me Though my belly begs to differ Your knees Are a bit boney But I wouldn't have it Any other way Than feeling you Collapse on me In laughter And love Let us tickle And kick Don't pee on yourself But that would be equally hilarious In this Queen sized ring We are both victors
Tim "Philharmonic" Carey
Sniggling
Tim Carey was born and bred in 23 England, but enjoys coming to the USA as often as possible! He continues to enjoy a career full of variety, as solo performer, chambermusic player, orchestral keyboard player and teacher.
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Answers on page 26
Bug is a 5 year old Chihuahua mix. He is neutered and up to date on all vaccines. He is a very sweet boy and was found abandoned. He is ready for a loving home!
Gorda is a 2 year old female pit mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines! She is an especially sweet girl and loves to play!
The Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061 Hwy 75 in Blountville,TN 37617. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue has started a pet food pantry for people that have had financial hardships because of job loss or medical problems and are struggling to feed their pet. They can come by the shelter and get cat or dog food to get through the tough time. Donations can be sent to The Bridge Home Shelter PO Box 654 Blountville, TN 37617 Every animal in their care is spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated before being adopted. Being a non profit the shelter is funded entirely by membership dues and private donations. They always need volunteers or monetary donations.
Other always needed items:pet food, cat litter & cat toys dog treats & dog toys,paper towels, cleaners, office supplies,Purina weight circles. Phone: 423-239-5237 Hours are Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm Sat 12pm-3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www. bridgehomerescue@gmail.com or like them on Facebook: www. Facebook.com/bridgehome
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
PETS
OF THE WEEK
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THINGS TO DO
BunnyHop 5K set for April 15 State of Franklin Healthcare Associates and LIFEWTR will host the BunnyHop 5K on Saturday, April 15, at Founders Park beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event is powered by the Blue Plum Organization and will be followed by a Community Easter Egg Hunt, also at Founders Park, sponsored by Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. The entry fee for the 5K is $20 per person in advance and $25 on the day of the race. Kids 12 and under can participate in all events at no cost, and the first 50 kids at the race will receive bunny ears. Participants who are 13 years and older and pre-register will receive a T-shirt. Awards will be given for the top overall winners (male and female), top masters (over 40) male and female, and top three male and female in the following age brackets: 10 and under; 1114; 15-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 5059; 60-69; and 70 and over. The Easter egg hunt is free and open to the community and will also occur at Founders Park beginning at the amphitheatre at 10:30 a.m. Children 12 and under are invited to bring their baskets to use to collect eggs. The egg hunt will be divided into age groups. Online 5K registration, which closes April 13, can be completed at www.athlinks.com/event/ bunny-hop-5k-kids-dash-196147. A course map is also available at this link. Public parking is available in the Pavillion lot and at Munsey Church. Founders Park is located at 226 Commerce St. For more information, contact blueplumdirector@gmail.com. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., invites children ages 3-12 to a Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday, April 13. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with games and photos with the Easter Bunny followed by the hunt at 8 p.m. A separate hunt will take place for ages 5 and younger. Participants are asked to bring their own flashlights. This special event is free and sponsored by the Knoxville TVA Credit Union. For more information, please call 423-434-5749. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Initiative wants to help do just that. Be part of preserving the stories of our lives. Do you have a story you’d like to share about yourself, your parents, or you grandparents? Or would you like to be a story catcher, to gather these important stories- full of wisdom from a bygone time? The Jonesborough Storytelling Initiative is dedicated to bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to strengthen our community and enrich the lives of those who live here through the power of our stories. The Jonesborough Senior Storytellers Program is the first milestone and is dedicated to collecting, sharing, and preserving those cherished stories about a way of life that made us the strong generation we are today. The program leaders will guide individuals through one-on-one sessions and story circles. The collecting, sharing, and preserving of these stories with the Jonesborough Senior Storytellers Program will lead up to a published book and storytelling performance in the fall. These stories will be collected on audio and video to be used in future publications. The purpose is to share our collected wisdom and to help future generations
know what it is like to work hard, to serve our community or country, and raise the kind of families that put people before things. The story circle will be held at the Jonesborough Senior Center every Thursday in April as well as May 4 and 11 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Please call (423) 753-4781 to schedule a day to share your story. The Jonesborough Senior Center is located at 307 E Main St, Jonesborough, TN 37659. For more information call 423-7534781.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) ispartnering with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, US Forest Service, and Roan Mountain State Park to remove invasive garlic mustard from the park and heavily trafficked highways around Carvers Gap and SAHC conservation properties in the Highlands of Roan. The volunteer workday begins at 9:30 am. Plucking out the pesky invaderswhen they are young and tender is not hard work, but it does take a lot of hands. Volunteers can sign up online at •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Appalachian.org, or for questions Local author Scott Pratt to or more info contact Marquette speak at Gray Library Crockett at Marquette@ Scott Pratt, local author and appalachian.org or 828-253-0095 ETSU graduate, will be speaking ext 210. at the Gray Library Tuesday, April •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 18, at 6 p.m. Pratt, a former criminal defense attorney, is Senior Services to offer Silver well- known for his Joe Dillard Sneakers® Game Day series of legal thrillers. He will be Senior Services at Memorial sharing about his writing career, Park Community Center, 510 Bert as well as his journey in the field St., will offer a Silver Sneakers® of self-publishing. Admission is Game Day for ages 50 and older free and individuals are welcome from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, to come and bring their books to April 12. Various games such as be signed by Pratt that evening. shuffleboard, pickleball, table tennis and more will be set up in •••••••••••••••••••••••••• the gym.Cost is $3 or free for Silver Garlic Mustard Pull on Earth Sneakers® eligible members.For Day at Roan Mountain more information, call 423-434On Saturday, April 22, the 6237.
City hosting free mulch giveaway The Johnson City Public Works Department invites the public to a free mulch giveaway Saturday, April 15 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Cash Hollow Convenience Center, 191 Cash Hollow Road. Staff will be available to assist with loading; there is no limit on amount. This mulch has been ground with a grinder from brush that the City has collected. It is not compost and may contain weed Cryptogram: Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally. material. Drop Quote: "If the scissors are not used daily on the beard, it will not be long before the beard is, by its luxuriant For more information, please growth, pretending to be the head." call the Public Works Street Division at 423-975-2700. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Senior Center Storytelling Initiative If you were “poor but didn’t know it”, if you served in the military, if you farmed, if you taught schoolor taught a family of youngsters, if you’ve traveled the world, if you helped raise your brothers and sisters, we want your wisdom, and your stories. Please be part of the Jonesborough Storytelling Initiative. Everyone has a story to share and the Jonesborough Storytelling
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Kelly’s Place
By Jim Kelly since 1989 jkelly@ theloaferonline.com
he curious thing about thinking or talking about music is that, in this age of instantaneous access to information, we can listen to any album we want, anytime we want. In this sense, none of this music exists only in the past, because we can listen to it now. The past, in other words, becomes an illusion, just waiting to be spun into a narrative that suits our needs. For instance, when I was listening to music in 1967, I wasn’t conscious of that year being anything special or particularly worth remembering. Now, of course, we invent labels like “The Summer of Love” to make the year seem somehow more comprehensible. Of course, by doing so we are distorting history and trivializing the experiences of those who lived “back in the day.” Like most people who listen to music, I have many personal memories attached to my songlists. For instance, every time I listen to The Doors’ first album (released on 1/4/67 but not part of my experience until much later that year), I remember first hearing the album version of “Light My Fire” on our Buick’s radio when me and Dad were on our way back from my playing the organ at a North Wilkesboro, NC dinner meeting and I was, appropriately enough, mesmerized and mystified by Ray Manzarek’s organ playing (much better than mine) on the extended version of a song I had only heard in its truncated single hit version. A whole new world was opened up to me, and I haven’t been the same since. Needless to say, I didn’t connect Ray Manzarek’s organ solo at the time to a similar solo by John Coltrane, who died in 1967. and the jazz saxophonist didn’t become an important part of my life until the 1990s. I don’t look back at this Buick radio experience with nostalgia, however, because I have never had a desire to return to that earlier world. But I have nevertheless developed a sense of wonder at how our lives are often experienced as a series of transformative moments. 1967 has many such transformative musical moments. I purchased several now-iconic albums during 1967. The ones that still occupy prominent slots on my playlist (thank goodness, I don’t have to deal with those inconvenient vinyl albums anymore) include “Surrealistic Pillow” (Jefferson Airplane, released on 2/1, but not purchased by me until that summer, in West Jefferson, NC), “Disraeli Gears” (Cream, released on 11/10 and introduced to me by a Life magazine article I was reading in the barber shop), “Smiley Smile” (Beach
Boys, released on 8/18, and nowhere close to the magnificence of their crowning achievement, “Pet Sounds,” released the previous year), “HipHug-Her” (Booker T & The Mgs, released on 6/26 and purchased by me in my hometown TV/Radio shop a few days later--one of my favorite organ-
based albums), “ Vanilla F u d g e ” (Vanilla Fudge, released on 8/31, and responsible for many anxious moments as I tried to learn the organ parts to “You Keep Me Hanging On”), and “The Electric Prunes” (The Electric Prunes, released on 4/29, and still one of my favorites by the faux-group put together by recording genius David Axelrod). Some albums that influenced me most were never purchased. Although I was astounded and confused by Jimi Hendrix, I didn’t purchase his “Are You Experienced,” which was released on 5/12. And I never saw his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1969 Woodstock festival until many years after the documentary film was released. And one very influential album I never heard. For some reason, I was fascinated by Moby Grape’s self-titled first album (released on 6/6), but I never listened to it. I count it as a major influence during the summer of 1967, but I never heard the album in its entirety until I added it my iPad playlist a couple of years ago. Influences sometimes have to simmer
until they boil. Interestingly enough, two albums that have now become very influential never entered my consciousness until the 21st century. The ground-breaking album by Miles Davis, “Miles Smiles,” was released on 1/23 and took the jazz world by storm. But it didn’t take me by storm in 1967, and neither did one of very favorite albums from that year, The Velvet Underground’s “The Velvet Underground And Nico” (released on 3/12). In that far-away era that somehow existed without social media and YouTube, I had no idea who Lou Reed was, much less Andy Warhol, who drew the infamous banana that graces the cover of the album. This album has now emerged as my favorite 1967 album (with “Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim” being the runner-up), which goes to show that influences range far and wide and are not always confined to a particular year. So, I can listen to the Velvet Underground without a shred of nostalgia. As an aside, I didn’t listen to Aretha Franklin’s stellar album, “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You” (released on 3/10) until many year later, although I couldn’t avoid the impact made by “Respect,” which is in many ways the official anthem of 1967. In case you are wondering, I couldn’t wait to purchase a copy of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” soon after its 6/1 release by The Beatles, and remember not being all that impressed, except by “A Day In The Life.” Of course, I was more of a Rolling Stones fan at the time. Before I bring this much-too-long column to an end, I must relate that the musical highlight of the year came one Saturday afternoon in early June while watching “American Bandstand.” In a totally uncharacteristic move, Dick Clark introduced me to a thoroughly non-American-Bandstand selection, Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.” Needless to say, 1967 was a year that featured lots of organ playing, and I have never recovered from the shock and the elation of hearing that song for the first time. If I were asked to create a time capsule for the 50th anniversary of 1967, this would be my first choice. And I never tire of performing my own version on my keyboards--a version that is constantly changing. I encourage you this week to think about the music that has influenced you. And I hope you will do so without nostalgia. These, as Carly Simon reminds us, are the good old days. See you next week.
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
1967, Part One: The Myth Of Nostalgia
Every year is the fiftieth anniversary of something, and this year we 27 should expect to see lots of retrospectives about the significance of 1967 and the so-called “Summer of Love” that has entered into the mythic landscape of that momentous year.
theloaferonline.com | April 11, 2017
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