theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
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on the cover
Volume 31 • Issue #4
Happy New Year
Publisher Luci Tate Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May
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!
18 Stargazer Marq's Top Astro Stories of 2015 19 Skies This Week 20 Batteries Not Included Get Outta Here, 2016 22 Mountain Movers The Will Bishop Interview 23 Pop Life Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 24 Appalachian Wanderers New Year, New Wandererings 26 Outdoor Life Mounting Optics On An AR15 26 The Casual Word You 28 Puzzle Page 31 Kelly’s Place Kelly's 2016 Bookshelf
your week’s line-up
Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Brian Bishop Daniel Worley Jason Worley Langley Shazor Matt Messer
columns & reviews
Advertising Dave Carter Patti Barr Shawn Hale Paul Kavanaugh
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Happy New Year Midnight On Main New Year's Day Hikes First Juried Exhibit of 2017 Carter Railroad Museum Exhibit Tribute To Women Nominations Open Farm & Fun Time Lyrics & Lore Butterfly Gardening Jerry Jacobs Rings In 2017 @ 50Fifty Spotlight Smokies License Plates Hands On January Events Sister Act Auditions Pets Of The Week Things To Do
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NEW YEAR'S EVE MASQUERADE BALL 8pm Holiday Inn - Johnson City, TN
Join us Saturday night, December 31, 2016 as Appalachian Renaissance Faire hosts a night you'll never forget! Dinner, Dancing, and Renaissance Revelry! Step into the romantic world of Masquerade, Music and Fairy Magic! Free souvenir photo, silent auction, cash bar, carving station, FREE souvenir photo, and MORE! Come meet some of the delightful characters who will bring to life the area's first interactive, historical novel: The Appalachian Renaissance Faire this coming October 2017, in the magical location of Davy Crockett Park in Limestone, TN. Savor your delicious dinner as you listen to beautiful Celtic tunes performed live, by Celtic Harpist, Sandra Parker. Dance the night away to lively Celtic and contemporary dance music by DJ Billy Gambill of Gambill Entertainment of Mountain City, TN. Enjoy your countdown to the New Year with us, IN STYLE! Silent Auction to benefit the children's are of the Faire. LIMITED SEATING...BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY
NEW YEAR'S EVE STREET PARTY 8pm - Downtown Kingsport
It’s a New Year’s Eve Party 100 years in the making! Join us in Downtown Kingsport to ring in the new year…and celebrate Kingsport’s 100th birthday! Think it will be too cold? We'll have heated benches (provided by Jackson Jones) and patio heaters to keep you toasty. Something for the kiddos? Absolutely! The YMCA is sponsoring a kids station with a magician, face painting and more! Do you like free stuff? Josh Smith, with WJHL, will be giving away free goodies all night! Always wanted to go to Times Square? Join us and avoid the traffic! We will have a ball drop at midnight - ours is a big "100"! Come celebrate with Kingsport as we kick off our centennial year! We can't wait to ring in the new year with the Kingsport spirit!
Check out the spotlight page for more local entertainment!
In its third year, the celebration will kick off at 7 p.m. Dec. 31, bringing the community together for live music, dancing, a kids zone, fireworks, and more. A highlight will be the ball drop by Greeneville Light & Power System during the countdown to a spectacular fireworks show above Main Street, according to organizer Amy Rose, the town’s Public Relations Manager. “Throughout the night, we will collect everyone’s New Year’s resolutions for 2017 and place them inside the lighted ball to be dropped at the intersection of Main and Depot streets,” Rose said. “As we countdown to midnight, everyone can watch the ball drop and think about their hopes and dreams for the coming year.” MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE DJ John Deyton will lead the dance party on Main Street with interactive games, beginning at 7 p.m. The dance party is free to the public through sponsorship provided by Computer Pros. A highlight of the dance party will be a planned “Mannequin Challenge” at 11 p.m. For those not familiar with this internet craze, it involves a video shoot of a large group of people who pose like mannequins, being careful not to move for several seconds or even minutes at a time. The dance party also will feature a giant screen showing live feed from various locations, including the event’s three main venues: General Morgan Inn, Capitol Theatre, and Catalyst Coffee Company. CATALYST COFFEE COMPANY Also kicking off at 7 p.m. will be Karaoke at the Catalyst, sponsored by DTR, Tennessee Inc. The family friendly karaoke will be provided by “The Karaoke Man” KJ and DJ Services. Live music at the Catalyst Coffee Company will be performed by local artists Josh Miller at 9 p.m. and Zach Wampler at 10:45 p.m. Catalyst will offer warm food, drinks and desserts throughout the evening. For more information on Catalyst, please call 423-588-5146 or visit www. catalystcoffeecompany.com. GENERAL MORGAN INN The General Morgan Inn, an event sponsor, is adding entertainment in the Grand Ballroom this year with The Whiskey Sticks of Johnson City. Meanwhile, DJ Robbie Britton will entertain ages 21 and older on the Terrace of the General Morgan Inn. Both parties in the Grand Ballroom and on the Terrace start at 8 p.m., and the entrance fee to both is $30, which includes hors d’oeuvres. In addition to the parties in the Grand Ballroom and on the Terrace, free live music also is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. in the lobby of the General Morgan Inn. Reservations are required that night for Brumley’s restaurant at the hotel, which will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information about festivities at the General Morgan Inn, please call 423-787-1000 or visit www.generalmorganinn.com.
CAPITOL THEATRE The Capitol Theatre will feature three bands, beginning at 8 p.m. The Threetles, a local Beatles tribute band, will open the show. Following The Threetles, the Capitol stage will feature The Comet Conductors, a rock band from Kingsport, at 9:15 p.m. and The Billy Crawford Band, a blues rock band from Bristol, at 10:30. Food and drink will be available in VIP seating in the balcony for all three shows for $25. General admission to the Capitol will be $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. For more information on the Capitol’s shows, please call the box office at 423-638-1300 or visit www. capitolgreeneville.org. KIDS ZONE A new addition this year is the Kids Zone, which will feature several fun activities on Main Street. “In our first two years, we were pleasantly surprised to see lots of families bring their children to Midnight on Main,” Rose said. “We decided to add the Kids Zone this year so everyone would have something fun to do.” The Kids Zone will be the location for everyone to make their New Year’s Resolutions, some of which will be shared on the giant screen. Other activities will include a selfie booth, cornhole, glow sticks, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk. The Kids Zone is sponsored by Sleep Solutions, and admission is free. The public is reminded that alcoholic beverages will not be allowed on the street. In addition to Computer Pros, DTR, General Morgan Inn, and Sleep
Solutions, sponsors for Midnight On Main are: Landair Transport, Inc., Waste Industries, TEVET, John Deere Power Products, Tommie’s Plumbing, Gosnell’s Stereo & Music, Popcorn Video, and Creamy Cup. Anyone who would like to sponsor the event can contact Rose by calling Greeneville Town Hall at 423-6397105 or e-mailing her at arose@ greenevilletn.gov. For more information on Midnight on Main, please visit www.facebook. com/TownofGreeneville.
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theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
Returns To Ring In 2017
Midnight On Main
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idnight On Main, Greeneville’s New Year’s Eve celebration, will feature free fun activities for the entire family.
Sycamore Shoals
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FIRST HIKE Join Ranger Davis for a special guided interpretive walk through the grounds of Sycamore Shoals and along portions of the walking path on Sunday, January 1.
State Park to host
FIRST DAY HIKE
Discover the historical events that took place surrounding Sycamore Shoals and their significance to the formation of our State and Country. Dress appropriately for the weather as we will be taking a casual stroll on the walking path and through the park grounds. Meet in the picnic area beside the Visitor Center, hike will begin at 9:00am. Please no pets. Hike is by reservation only and subject to cancellation due to significantly inclement weather. Reservations must be made by Friday, December 30 at 3:30 pm EST. Contact the park for more information at 423-543-5808.
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he Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will host its annual First Day Hike on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m.
Join park staff for a guided walking tour of the museum grounds, and along the beautiful Greenbelt Trail of Big Stone Gap, VA. The hike will focus on some of the historic homes in the area before joining the Greenbelt for a twomile hike along the Powell River. Participants will receive a special collector’s edition First Day Hike bumper sticker. For more information, please call the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park at 276-523-1322. The award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to make reservations in one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
Although the body of artwork by Kathy Gibian and Sarah Nobles is vastly different in texture, color, balance and form, their approach is similar. Working in acrylic and oil both artists explore their landscapes through a lens of clarification. What are they seeing and how does it interpret to canvas? These are the questions asked and attempts at answers are their resulting works. Ms. Gibian’s artwork uses geometric forms to build landscapes that are dreamlike and unearthly while maintaining familiarity that invites the viewer to look closer. While the works of Ms. Nobles embrace the regional landscape of northeast Tennessee with soft shapes and textures producing romanticized and recognizable rural settings. The juxtaposed landscapes will build fantasized cities and fall away to rural landscapes in a show that invites you to see Through Their Eyes. Also Opening on January 4th in the Members Gallery are four area artists: Ruthie Edwards, Johnson City, TN (oil) Carol Murray, Marion, VA (Water color, oil) Joyce Kistner, Bristol, VA (Acrylic) and Kitty Williams, Bristol, TN (Acrylic,Pastel) Meet-the-Artists at the opening reception, “First Thursday”, January 5th 6-8pm Admission is always free and everyone is always welcome at the Arts Depot. 314 Depot Square, Abingdon, VA
theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
THROUGH THEIR EYES
First Juried Exhibitors of 2017
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“Through Their Eyes” will open January 4th. There will be a Meet-the Artists opening reception on “First Thursday”January 5th, 6-8pm.
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Sarah Nobles
Kathy Gibian
The Loafer has always been reliable and a great source for all things happening in the Tri Cities. It keeps me in the loop." Melanie M
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Carter Railroad Museum Exhibit
FEATURES REGION’S BEST
On Saturday, Dec. 31, East Tennessee State University’s George L. Carter Railroad Museum’s monthly Heritage Day will showcase both Appalachia’s biggest steam engines and most colorful diesels. The exhibit is titled “Precision Transportation: Norfolk & Western and Norfolk Southern Glory.” In 2012, Norfolk Southern railroad, once the Norfolk and Western, devoted a group of new locomotives to its corporate past. These engines were painted in historically-derived schemes similar to the ones featured on the predecessor lines, like the Interstate, Southern, Wabash and Central of Georgia. The model trains running at the museum will include steam engines from the past and the Heritage-style modern diesels. “The museum has honored this company, which still runs trains through downtown Johnson City, since the start of the Heritage Days program,” noted event coordinator Geoff Stunkard. “This was a great way to bring them to the forefront and should be a fun activity as New Year’s Eve entertainment for the family.” The George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and members of the Mountain Empire Model Railroaders (MEMRR) club are developing the program on the club’s large 24x44 1:87 HO scale layout, one of four model lines that are housed in the museum. The Carter Railroad Museum is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. The museum can be identified by a flashing railroad crossing signal at the back entrance to the Campus Center Building. Visitors should enter ETSU’s campus from State of Franklin Road onto Jack Vest
Drive and continue east to 176 Ross Drive, adjacent to the flashing RR crossing sign. To learn more about the museum, visit http://johnsonsdepot.com/ glcarter/cartermuseum. Visit www.memrr.org to learn more about MEMRR, which helps demonstrate and maintain the model layouts, museum exhibits and other projects. For more information about Heritage Day, contact Dr. Fred Alsop, museum director, at 423-439-6838 or alsopf@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423439-8346.
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TRIBUTE TO WOMEN
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YWCA Opens Nominations
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YWCA Bristol is now accepting nominations for YW Tribute to Women, an awards program that recognizes outstanding women in the Tri-Cities region.
"Every year I am amazed by the amazing women nominated for this award and humbled by everything they've accomplished," said Kathy Waugh, YWCA executive director. Women may be nominated by an organization, business, and community groups for this prestigious award in one of three categories: Nurture, Empower, and Transform. Candidates should be leaders who have experienced significant growth and/or achievement in their areas of expertise. Judges residing out of the states of Tennessee and Virginia will select three exemplary recipients in each category, and these award recipients will be honored at an awards banquet on Thursday, April 27, 2017. "Tribute to Women is an excellent opportunity to celebrate employees or volunteers who have made significant contributions in the workplace or community," said Waugh. Nomination forms are available online at www.ywcabristol. org and should be mailed to YWCA Bristol at 106 State Street, Bristol, TN 37620 or emailed to c_king@ywcabristol.org by February 15, 2017. Forms are also available for pick-up at the YWCA front desk. The awards banquet will be held on Thursday, April 27 at 6 p.m. at the Bristol Train Station. For more information, please contact Courtney King at c_king@ywcabristol. org or call 423.968.9444. For more information about sponsorships, please contact Katy Stigers at k_stigers@ywcabristol.org.
The Loafer keeps me up to date!" Tiffany B
Farm Report with Corbin Hayslett, an heirloom recipe segment that’s 11 more storytelling than instruction, and much more! Radio Bristol Presents: Farm & Fun Time is a revival of WCYB radio’s Farm & Fun Time show which broadcast live from a studio inside the General Shelby Hotel in downtown Bristol. In the 1940s through the early 1960s Farm & Fun Time was an important program in the history of early bluegrass music and helped to establish the careers of legendary performers including Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Mac Wiseman, and many more. The monthly program takes place on Thursday, January 12 in the Performance Theater at the museum at 7:00 p.m. and the doors open at 6:30 p.m. 520 Birthplace of Country Music Way, Bristol, VA 24201 423-573-1927. theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
FARM & FUN TIME
LUKE BELL, THE FARMER & ADELE
Radio Bristol Presents the January 2017 edition of everyone’s favorite live radio experience, Farm & Fun Time live from the Birthplace of Country Music Museum featuring music acts Luke Bell and The Farmer & Adele.
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Love going through The Loafer to find out about upcoming events and opportunities when we actually get to enjoy some down time and get to 'loaf'."
According to RollingStone, Wyoming native Luke Bell “plays classic honky-tonk with a wink and a yodel that summons the sleeping ghosts of country better than any voodoo spell ever could.” Nashville’s The Farmer & Adele bring country-western cowboy swing and high lonesome together in a way that hearkens back to the heyday of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Hosted by Kris Truelsen and featuring live advertisements written by house band Bill & the Belles, the program also features the Appalachian Sustainable Development
Vanessa B
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yrics & Lore was designed so that any individual can experience songwriting and storytelling.
For more information, contact us at smswf@yahoo.com or call 865-604-9066 A full schedule for the Lyrics & Lore festival is available online at www.dollywood.com. Information about the International Storytelling Center is available at www.storytellingcenter.net.
You don’t have to be songwriter or a storyteller to attend this wonderful event. Join The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival (SMSWF) and The International Storytelling Center (ISC) as they bring together the beauty and inspiration of songs and stories to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort Jan. 26-29, 2017. During the weekend, audience members will have the opportunity to enjoy internationally recognized storytellers share their stories and learn about the most popular songs heard on the radio. Plus, on Friday and Saturday evening, sit back and enjoy listening to these hit songs performed by the songwriter that created these chart toppers! Each day, internationally recognized storytellers Beth Horner and Bil Lepp will perform FREE afternoon matinees from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Also, from 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., join our hit songwriters in Dollywood's Family Room as they perform their songs and talk with audience members. A songwriting workshop, “Find the Song inside of You” will be presented by Michael deBills on Friday morning. A storytelling workshop, “Mining Memories & Discovering Family Stories” will be presented by Beth Horner on Saturday morning. Both of these workshops are FREE of charge and open to the public. There are two ticketed concerts being held during Lyrics & Lore on Friday, January 27 (Keith Anderson, Brady Seals, Bryan White, Gordon Kennedy, and Bil Lepp) and Saturday, January 28 (Brady Seals, Bryan White, Gordon Kennedy, and Bil Lepp).
Butterflies are beautiful and fascinating insects. We can entice butterflies to feed or to lay their eggs in our yards and gardens by planting certain plants as nectar sources or caterpillar food sources. Join Kris Light as she discusses butterflies, moths and the plants to attract them. Kris will share some of the best ways to keep our gardens lovely, and our natural landscape full of beautiful, useful native insects. Because everyone’s garden is different, we will also set aside time for answering gardeners’ questions. Plan to spend a brisk winter morning learning how to create a more beautiful, more natural neighborhood. The seminar will be held at
the Recreation Building on Duck Island, at Warriors’ Path State Park. Although this event is free and open to all, we do ask that you preregister if you plan to attend. Kris H. Light grew up in Nashville and spent as much of her childhood outdoors as possible. Her love of nature followed her into adulthood, and she continues to enjoy sharing her enthusiasm about wildflowers and insects with others. She has taught environmental and science outreach classes for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the American Museum of Science and Energy and the Oak Ridge Schools since 1987. In 2003 she began using her photographs to develop a website. Her website - EastTennesseeWildflowers.com - contains thousands of images of flowers, insects, birds, and other aspects of nature.
Saturday, January 14, 10am For More Information and to Pre-register: Warriors’ Path State Park, PO Box 5026 Kingsport, TN 37663, (423) 239-6786 email: Marty.Silver@tn.gov Photo courtesy of Marty Silver
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Butterfly Gardening
WINTER GARDEN SEMINAR
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iscover how to create a healthy landscape that will also attract butterflies. Winter is the perfect time to plan your natural yard & garden!
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Hailing from the coast of the Carolinas, the Charleston native draws influences from country legends and 90’s rock hit makers alike. “My first musical experience was a Hootie and the Blowfish concert when I was 5,” explains Jacobs. After finding his musical calling as a child, he immediately fell in love with the stage – a love affair that continues to this day and is apparent in his electrifying performances. Jacobs’ love of performing is only rivaled by his passion for songwriting. A devotion to wellcrafted songs has awarded Jacobs multiple opportunities, including a song placement on a major TV network and interest in his songs from major and up-and-coming artists alike. Jacobs’ first single ‘Maybe Tonight’ was met with glowing reviews and sparked interest in the young artist’s energetic blend of country and rock. Whiskey Riff comments, “It’s fresh and fun but still has a bit of twang to it.” The overwhelmingly positive response sent Jacobs right back into the studio to work on a full-length record. Jacobs comments, “I love and have lived every song on this record, and I couldn’t be more excited to share them.” The highly anticipated fulllength release is expected early 2017, but until then audiences can experience Jerry Jacobs’ live show in the heart of Music City or in venues around the country.
Saturday, Dec. 31st • 9pm - 1am 50Fifty Sports Tavern • 2102 North Roan St Champange Toast • Party Favors
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RINGS IN 2017
JERRY JACOBS
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ountry artist and songwriter Jerry Jacobs landed onto Nashville’s music scene in early 2014, and has been making noise in Music City and across the nation ever since.
Spotlight
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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 - Dec. 31st -
- SATURDAY - Dec. 31st -
- WEDNESDAY - Dec. 28th -
William Schmitt
Demon Waffle & Indighost Capone’s
Ma & Pa’s Restaurant
Open Mic
Moonlight Run
Country Club Bar & Grill
The Threetles, The Comet Conductors, The Billy Crawford Band
Haal / These are the Angles Of Sea and Shore
Southern Boyz
The Harvest Table
The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
Open Mic
Woodstone Deli
The Hideaway
Circus No. 9
Bone Fire Smokehouse
- THURSDAY - Dec. 29th -
Wolf Hills Jazz Quartet
O’Mainnin’s Pub
Adam McMillan
Rainbow Asian Cuisine Corbin Hayslett Bone Fire Smokehouse
- FRIDAY - Dec. 30th -
Aaron Jaxon Band Scull Soup, Nerve Endings, The Reppertons
The Silver Spur
Broke-N-Busted
Kingsport Eagles
Rusty Steel w/ Quarter Bounce
The Diamonds
Before The Storm O’Mainnin’s Pub
Vigilantes
at Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza
Phantom
Abingdon Moose Lodge
Sundown Band
Woodstone Deli
Willoughby Ruritan
The Rhythm Revue
CHR Band
Virginia Ground
Open Jam Session
Major Mojo
Wyldeheart
The Pit Stop
Bristol Train Station
Capone’s
Capitol Theatre
Bone Fire Smokehouse Numan’s Billiards
John the Revelator
Phoenix Band
Sleepy Owl Brewery
Shades of Refinement
The Damascus Brewery
Acoustic Coffeehouse Holiday Inn - Exit 7
Yarn
The Hideaway
Elizabethton VFW
Holston River Brewing Company
Adam McMillan
Nightshift Band
Benny Wilson Band
Live Music
Railway Express
Hungry I at The Apex
Mick Kyte & Goat Whiskey
at Holston River Brewing Company
Dangermuffin
Wolf Hills Brewing
Johnson City Moose Lodge
at Country Club of Bristol
Shooter
Kingsport Jericho Temple
Rebel Mountain
Southern Rebellion
Corey Hunt Band
Rusty Clark
Country Club Bar & Grill
Bone Fire Smokehouse
Quaker Steak & Lube
Model City Tap House
Holiday Inn - Exit 7
CJ’s Sports Bar
- MONDAY -Jan. 2nd -
Brad Blackwell
Model City Tap House
Open Mic w/ Glen Diamond Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
for show time & more details, visit
theloaferonline.com
Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN
Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St Bristol VA 276-644-9647
Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon Va 276-623-0037
Hungry I at the Apex 604 W. Market St. Johnson City
Rainbow Asian Cuisine 2412 N. Roan St. Johnson City 423-232-6688
Bristol Brewery 41 Piedmont Ave Bristol VA 276-608-1220 Capitol Theatre 104 S. Main St. Greeneville TN 423-638-1300 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423-928-2295 The Damascus Brewery 32173 Government Rd. Damascus VA 276-469-1069 Elizabethton VFW 2001 W. Elk Ave. Elizabethton The Harvest Table Restaurant 13180 Meadowview Sq Meadowview Va 276-944-5140 The Hideaway 235 E. Main St Johnson City 423-926-3896
KARAOKE
Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276-466-4100
Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton 423-722-3410 Jericho Temple 1100 Jericho Drive Kingsport Johnson City Moose Lodge 1801 W. Lakeview Dr. Johnson City 423-926-6400 Kingsport Eagles 926 E. Stone Dr. Kingsport Ma & Pa’s Restaurant 18928 US Highway 58 Castlewood VA 276-762-7533 Model City Tap House 324 E Market St. Kingsport Numan’s 225 E. Main St. Johnson City 423-926-7665 O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423-844-0049 The Pit Stop 2705 N. John B Dennis Hwy Kingsport 423-288-5451
TUESDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment Boomershine’s Pizza Karaoke w/ Sean Dawg House Tavern Karaoke -Numan’s *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke American Legion Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment Smokey Bones - Johnson City Turn the Page Karaoke VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke - Numan’s Karaoke Holiday Inn - Johnson City Karaoke - Jiggy Rays Pizzaria Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment Mellow Mushroom - Johnson City ***********************
Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 3119 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423-262-0444 Silver Spur RR 6 Gate City VA 276-452-2664 Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423-390-8476 Willoughby Ruritan 5145 Marvin Rd Bulls Gap VA The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Wolf Hills Brewing Company 350 Park St. SE Abingdon VA 276-451-5470 Woodstone Deli 3500 Fort Henry Dr Kingsport 423-245-5424
FRIDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City Karaoke - CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke - Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ DJ Marques Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment Moe’s Original BBQ Karaoke - Numan’s *********************** SATURDAY Karaoke - The Horseshoe Lounge Karaoke Kingsport Moose Lodge Turn the Page Karaoke VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke - Numan’s ***********************
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SPOTLIGHT DIRECTORY
Abingdon Moose Lodge 15605 Porterfield Hwy Abgindon VA 276-628-2756
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MARQ'S TOP
ASTRO STORIES OF 2016 Every year there are always some spacey news to keep earthlings looking up and wondering about our Universe. Here are some 2016 highlights that are truly out-of-thisworld:
Stargazer
By Mark Marquette since 1996 stargazermarq@ gmail.com
EXOMARS—is the European Space Agency’s multi-step Mars missions to orbit and land on the Red Planet. Designed to locate methane and other gases important to biology in the atmosphere and surface, the orbiter, named Trace Gas Orbiter, has been working since October 2016. A piggyback spacecraft, Schiaparelli, crashed when attempting a soft landing, which may affect plans for an ExoMars rover in 2020. SEARCH FOR PLANET #9—And, no, it’s not Pluto, which is still a “dwarf planet,” albeit one of the most active worlds in the Solar System. Astronomers began thinking in 2016 that a huge, Neptune-size planet is responsible for the clumping of several groups of Kuiper Belt objects beyond Pluto. Six small (200 miles wide?) objects that are around 6 billion miles from the Sun cross the same invisible point in our Solar System’s plane—something like a 1 in 7,000 chance of that happening! Computer simulations predict a huge 9th planet maybe 10 billion miles away, and astronomers are looking for it. They even have an unofficial name, “Niku.” WHERE’S THE MILKY WAY?—An awareness of the disappearing starlight from our own backyards was focused upon in 2016 in the astronomers’ battle against light pollution. Only one per cent of the American population lives in night skies completely free of artificial light (compared to 90 percent 100 years ago!). Maybe half the population can never see the starry arm of our Galaxy from their backyard. And with 83 per cent of night in the United States under artificial light (up from 66 per cent in 2001), whole ecosystems of the animal kingdom are being disrupted as hunting and mating habits are being compromised. The solution? The International Dark-Sky Association is the advocates for the world in battling light pollution. They promote lighting the night properly, with downward facing, eco-friendly and cost efficient fixtures. And the IDA is all about education and an awareness of the financial waste, hoping communities begin to take back the night not just for stargazers, but also for the world of nocturnal creatures. JUNO at JUPITER—Another NASA spacecraft has made the interplanetary journey to the gigantic planet, large it can contain every other planet and Solar System object inside its globe. On July 4, 2016, Juno arrived at a man-made object speed record of 130,000 mph to begin a close, polar orbit to investigate Jupiter’s lethal magnetic field and space environment. A spinning metallic-hydrogen core creates the strongest magnetic field next only to the Sun’s. That creates a lot of invisible, radiation havoc, and its influence on the Jupiter system of ropy rings and 60-plus moons is part of Juno’s mission. The spacecraft will be deorbited and sent to burn up in Jupiter’s cloud deck in late 2018. INTELLIGENT STAR STRUCTURE—One word that perks up Joe and Jane American’s eyes skyward is “aliens!” And the hottest alien fantasy of 2016 was the announcement that a distant star, KIC 8462852, was acting like no star ever studied. Instead of a predictable rhythm of its changing light (caused by events like another eclipsing star or a transfer of star material between double stars), “Tabby’s Star” has dipped in brightness quickly by nearly 25 per cent, strange for the classification of the star. Because this star acts erratically and within no
known standards, many an astro-nerd began conjuring up visions of an alien mega-structure circling this star 1,500 Light Years away. That means it would take that many years traveling at the speed of light (6 trillion mph) for a spaceship to reach either direction. Astronomers are crunching the numbers and ordering more observations to solve the mystery of “Tabby’s Star.” EARTH-LIKE PLANET, OH, SO CLOSE—After a decade of technology leaps and data gathering in the search for planets orbiting other stars, one that might be like Earth was discovered orbiting the closest star in our night skies. Orbiting Proxima Centauri, 4.2 Light Years away, this “exoplanet” is slightly larger than Earth, has an atmosphere and possibly water. All this is known by observing the wobble of Proxima Centauri as the planet tugs it back and forth and spectra is taken as it passes in front of the parent star. It is an irony that the first exoplanet like Earth is orbiting the closet star. Though the Hubble Space Telescope cannot see “Proxima Centauri b,” it may be visualized as a tiny object by the next generation Webb Space Telescope when it is orbited hopefully in 2018. PLUTO, FANTASTIC PLUTO—The last bytes of fabulous data from the July 2015 flyby of the most famous dwarf planet was received in October 2016. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft sent the last packets of info 5 billion miles to Earth as it continued on its way to January 2019 encounter with a 25mile object another two billion miles beyond Pluto. Planetary scientists are amazed at the dynamic activity on Pluto, which has clouds in an atmosphere that may snow upon frozen nitrogen ice burgs floating on seas of other ices at minus -300 below zero. The famous former 9th planet has a much warmer interior than thought. And much more is to be learned as that New Horizon data is turned into hard facts that are revolutionizing our understanding of the Sun’s family. STAR WARS SPACESHIPS ON THE RISE—Generations of space travelers from now might look at 2016 as a pivotal year when the concept of pinpoint landings by reusable rockets became a reality. Private space companies Orbital Services, Blue Origin and SpaceX have made great strides to create the 1950s Buck Rogers image of spaceships taking off and landing at will. Contracts with NASA for supply ships to the International Space Station have been the centerpiece of independent space agencies. But with heavy risk. Indeed one unmanned Orbital Services supply ship was lost when the rocket blew up. But four times Elon Musk’s Space X rocket launched a satellite and had its first stage return and land erect twice on an ocean platform and twice on land. Steady pressure by a handful of private space companies will eventually put humans in orbit—and possibly boost space tourism. NERD STUFF THAT EXPLORES THE UNIVERSE—Every year has many surprises that come from astrophysicists and astronomers comparing notes and discovering things they never expected. This year it was some of the highest energy particles, called gamma rays, ever observed coming from a black hole at the center of the Milky Way. And then there are “gravity waves,” predicted by Einstein physics 100 years ago and finally confirmed in February 2016. Two complex science instruments in Louisiana and Washington detected the waves in the space/time from two merging black holes. Both the high energy gamma ray and the gravity wave revelations are built upon years of data and the historical laws of physics. In 2016, these breakthroughs are new ways we understand our Universe—which seems to always create more questions about who we are and how we got here.
The transition week between years 2016 and 2017 has the Moon starting a New phase with Venus dominating the evening horizon and Jupiter high in the pre-dawn sky. Mars is distinctly red to the left of Venus, and to the left of Mars and invisible to the unaided eye is eighth planet, Neptune. Tues. Dec. 27 A tip on that new telescope: It is important to understand during the daytime all the motions the telescope can go through so you are familiar with them in the night. A red flashlight, made with cellophane if need be, is essential to see the telescope focusing assembly and read star charts and a Moon map. Wed. Dec. 28 As you wander outside to catch your thoughts on this whirlwind week between Christmas and New Year’s, Venus will catch your eye until it sets just after 8:30 pm. When low to the horizon against bare trees and lit buildings, Venus looks like an airplane landing—and it’s often reported as a UFO! Thurs. Dec. 29 New Moon is today at 1:53 am, our natural satellite being above the Sun and invisible in the daytime sky. It’s a challenge to see soon you can see the thin crescent in the west after sunset. It’s extremely hard
the first day after New Moon, but easier to see the 2-day-old Moon. 19 So Saturday will be a challenge, but you’ll see the crescent easily this Sunday evening. Fri. Dec. 30 There are plenty of early morning risers delivering newspapers and heading to bakeries, convenience stores and health care facilities. And you might notice a really bright star high above the east horizon. That’s the planet Jupiter, fourth brightest object behind the Sun, Moon and Venus. At 4 am Jupiter is directly east with bright, white star Spica in Virgo, while bright orange star Arcturus is to the far left of the pair. Sat. Dec. 31 The last night of 2016 has Venus on the border of Capricornus the Sea Goat, and tomorrow night it will be inside the boundaries of Aquarius. Those invisible lines in the sky are help astronomers map out stellar objects and are completely arbitrary. Sun. Jan. 1 On this 1801 date in astronomy history, Giuseppe Piazzi celebrated the first night of the 19th Century by discovering the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest body among thousands in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Mon. Jan. 2 On this 1959 date, and for the first time in history, humans aimed to shoot the Moon! A Soviet Union rocket and small space probe, Luna 1, was launched to hit its target, 240,000 miles away. Three days later Luna 1 missed, and is long dead, but still orbiting the Sun.
theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
THIS WEEK
SKIES
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Dec. 27, 2016-Jan. 2, 2017, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
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GET OUTTA HERE,
2016!
Batteries Not Included
By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com
2016 is--almost--thankfully, over. It’s been a year, hasn’t it? We’ve lost a lot this year. I won’t recap who. I’m sure you’re all too familiar with who all we’ve lost. I lost my grandmother this year. It’s something of a strange feeling knowing you no longer have grandparents. That strange feeling of not going to the nursing anymore to see her lingers more than you’d think. I also lost a friend to breast cancer, she was just 37. We hadn’t seen each other in a few years, but we kept in touch through Facebook. Death was prominent this year, personally, and in our larger periphery. Amongst the dumpster fire within a dead horse that was 2016, there were good things. Things that I can celebrate. Things that I can feel good about. I saw Brian Wilson play “Pet Sounds” live with some of my dearest friends--I cried about five times during the evening. The Monkees released a new album to mark their fiftieth anniversary--which was great! I went to Dollywood for the first time in far too long with a lovely group of people--we had a blast. I got to do not one, but two DJ sets on one of my favorite radio stations WFMU’s Rock ‘N’ Soul Ichiban--one of which was a two hour Christmas special they kindly asked me to do.
I had many nights of playing board games with friends that were amazing evenings. I got to introduce a screening of William Castle’s “House on Haunted Hill” with all the gimmicks-a longtime dream. I began doing some guest reviews for the classic film website The Retro Set, which is such a treat and pleasure to do. So in the middle of all the crap this year has provided, there has been good spots. If you’re facing the coming year struggling to find positive notes to end the year with--do what I did. Make a list of five things. That’s all. Five good things that happened to you this year. If you comb through what I shared above, you can see that there is more than five there, and that they don’t have to be grand, epic, things. Just things that were good, that you feel happy about. I hope you can find five, and that it gives you some good vibes to end this year on. I hate to cut this column short--but I’m late to a party. We’re gonna drop that Elf on the Shelf off a barn to celebrate the new year. See you next year.
Drivers sporting the plates contribute to a range of park projects and programs like restoration and preservation of historic places, defense of at-risk species like the ash tree, and many more. Protecting historic places and preserving the park’s irreplaceable cultural resources is made possible by the specialty plate program. This year, the historic preservation staff is working to repair the chimneys and fireplaces of six structures, which includes relaying loose stones, removing and replacing failed mortar, and using historically accurate methods and materials. Emerald Ash Borer, a non-native wood boring beetles, threatens both of the national park’s species of ash trees. Funds raised through the specialty license plate program support systemic treatment of ash trees in developed areas, like campgrounds, picnics, and parking areas. The program contributes to both the ecological health of the park and the safety of visitors by mitigating hazardous tree dangers resulting from damage by the invasive species. Tennessee drivers could see a change to Friends of the Smokies’ specialty plate in the near future. The public is invited to vote on a potential new plate for Tennessee from designs created by Kristin Designs of Knoxville. Voting is open through the end of the year online at www.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org. “We are really excited at the prospect of a new design for Tennessee plates,” said Brent McDaniel, marketing director at Friends of the Smokies. “As the most popular plate out of more than 100 to choose from, we want to do as much as possible to support our park and keep that top spot.” Friends of the Smokies specialty license plates can be purchased for $30 in North Carolina and $35 in Tennessee, independent of plate expiration date. Plates may be purchased at North Carolina tag offices, Tennessee County Clerk offices and online at www.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org.
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Make National Park Projects Possible
Smokies License Plates
The giving spirit is visible on the roads across Tennessee and North Carolina this holiday season with Friends of the Smokies specialty license plates. Sales of specialty plates in Tennessee and North Carolina play an essential role in raising funds for Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). This year, the specialty plates generated nearly $815,000. Since its launch in 1999, the program has raised more than $13.3 million in support of America’s most-visited national park.
WILL BISHOP THE INTERVIEW I
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spent my formative years going by the nickname “Little Willard.” That was thanks to my older brother’s good friends Jody Begley, Jason Edwards and Damon Hunley. It’s ok though, because when I joined the swim team at Dobyns Bennett, they changed the nickname to “Aqua Bill.” They don’t get an A for originality, but I wore those nicknames with a sense of pride. That’s because growing up here meant family and for me it meant this guy right here. We had our tussles and I was a pesky little brother, but I love the guy. Take a minute to meet my brother Will. Then take a minute to quit bickering over the remote and tell somebody in your family you love them this holiday season. You will be glad you did.
Mountain Movers
By Brian Bishop bbishop@ theloaferonline.com
BRIAN: Thanks for taking a minute to tell people about yourself and what you do. Start out by telling folks a little about growing up in Kingsport and how it shaped you. WILL: Thanks for asking me to participate. Growing up in the small tight knit community that Kingsport has to offer was great. When we were kids it felt like everyone in our neighborhood knew each other and looked out for each other. I can remember like it was yesterday getting in trouble for climbing all the way to the top of a tree in the backyard that was taller than our house when I was probably ten. It took me a minute to figure out how mom knew I was up there. Turns out our next door neighbor saw me up there and made a call to make sure mom knew. I was upset about the spanking that came along with that little adventure but looking back it feels good to know friends and neighbors were looking out for me. That feeling of community endures and is one of the things that makes me feel connected and blessed to live where we do. BRIAN: It is hard to talk about this region and not mention faith. We grew up in a very religious household and I know your faith is foundational. How does faith affect your daily life and decisions? WILL: As you well know we were at church every time the doors were open when we were kids. I’m grateful that mom and dad were Christians and made sure we were in church. I’m a Christian as well and while I’m not perfect I do feel like my faith gives me peace and is a foundation that allows me to keep things in perspective when life
gets hectic. BRIAN: Family is a huge part of what this region is all about. What has it been like raising a kid in the region where we grew up and what has changed? WILL: I was living in Raleigh, NC before my son was born and made the decision to move back to the Tri Cities so that he could grow up here. Living in Raleigh was great and I enjoyed it but I wanted Andrew to be around all of his extended family and have that same sense of community that we grew up with. In regards to what has changed, the answer is a lot. The amenities that exist in the Tri Cities now are great. If you think about it most everything you want to do is available to you in well under an hour’s drive. There are great park systems and walking trails in Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City. Niswonger performing Arts center is in Greeneville and The Barter Theatre is in Abingdon. If you look around the Tri Cities and the surrounding area and can’t find something you are interested in doing, you didn’t look very hard. BRIAN: Let’s talk opportunity. We have both watched a lot of the people we grew up with move away over the years to take jobs or pursue education. You went to college locally and have worked in computing and data for a very long time. Why do that here rather than move away? WILL: I probably sound redundant but the answer here again is the community. Like a lot of people, I spent time as a teenager and twenty something trying to figure out how to get out of the Tri Cities. Three is also a large group of those same people that spend time working on getting out of the area that realize what they had once continued on page 27
I will never forget the first time I saw "Star Wars" on the big screen. I am, of course, referring to the 1977 original, also know as Episode IV, "A New Hope".
Pop Life
By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com
I was completely blown away by what I was seeing on the theater screen, and became an immediate fan. A new chapter in the "Star Wars" saga is playing at local theaters to the delight of fans everywhere in the form of "Rogue One" A Star Wars Story." The film is a prequel to the aforementioned 1977 film, and reveals how the plans for the Death Star (that big bad planet size weapon) were stolen in an effort to destroy the planet killer. This is also the first "Star Wars" film I remember that doesn't begin with the famous "crawling" story line at the beginning as a way to bring us up-to-date on what has been happening in that galaxy far, far away. The film introduces the main character, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) as a child, and we see how the Empire has a direct influence on her early life. Jyn is the daughter of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a researcher scientist who unwillingly helped design the Death Star. After Galen escapes from the clutches of the Empire, they eventually locate him, but his Jyn is able to flee capture. Years later, however, Jyn is again taken by the Empire, but is able to escape thanks to the help of a Rebel extremist named Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker). Jyn eventually ends up with a team, including Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and K-2SO, a Rebel-owned Imperial officer droid, sent to the planet Jedha to find the plans for the Death Star that will help them learn how to destroy the galaxies ultimate weapon of destruction. Jyn and company, as expected, run afoul of many Imperial Storm Troopers, and two famous characters
theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
ROGUE ONE A STAR WARS STORY
23 from "A New Hope". There are several supporting characters that really stand out in the film, including the aforementioned K-2SO, along with Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen), a blind warrior with a special connection to the Force, and Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed), a former Imperial pilot who has defected to the Rebels. The characters all have wonderful chemistry, and I loved every quip spouted by K-2SO, which provided much needed comic relief. The lead character of Jyn provides another strong "Star Wars" female hero, following in the footsteps of Kylo Ren from "The Force Awakens", with Jones playing the character with steely determination. I also loved all the surprise cameos, of which I will not reveal, but since this is a prequel to "A New Hope", I'm sure you are able to figure out that aspect on your own. With eye popping special effects, a smart script, and a director, Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla"2014), respectful of the material, "Rogue One" A Star Wars Story" provides an exhilarating trip to that galaxy far, far away. (Rated PG-13) 4 Droids (out of 4)
theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
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NEW YEAR,
NEW WANDERERINGS
A
s the end of 2016 looms right around the corner in just four more days, it is both exciting and somewhat frightening not knowing what 2017 will bring us.
Appalachian Wanderers
By Jason & Daniel Worley jdworley@ theloaferonline.com
What we do know, however, it that the past year has been full of amazing adventures and unforgettable memories1 that we have been excited to share with you through our Appalachian Wanderers articles. So many of our readers have emailed us and commented on places we have visited with you, and have shared ideas for exciting new destinations for our future articles in the coming year! We know many of you use the new year as a chance to start anew, to throw bad habits to the curb while picking up some good ones. Whether it’s a promise to exercise more, donate more to charity, or just to spend more time with our family and friends, there are always a plethora of things clamoring to be our new year’s resolution. We would like to encourage you make a somewhat different commitment this year and try something fun. Make a point to get outdoors more and enjoy the incredible scenery Tennessee and our neighboring states have to offer. Set a hiking goal to try to hit by the end of the year. It could be a target of ten or onehundred miles. You could decide to take more road trips and discover new scenic drives, visit more parks, or volunteer more hours cleaning trails. Whatever you pick it doesn’t matter, just as long as you have fun in the great outdoors. Recent studies by the USDA Forest Service show that visiting natural areas and forests can have great benefits on our overall physical and mental health. Not only does it boost your immune system, but it also has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve your mood, increase energy levels, and improve sleep. Some of the rewards
The sun setting over The Great Smoky Mountain National Park for one of the last times in 2016.
sound almost unreal, such as speeding up the body’s natural recovery process from surgery or illness. 2016 has been good to the majority of us, but it also has left its toll on just as many. We’ve lost friends, family, and national icons to the ravages of time and disease. A vicious election cycle has eroded friendships and increased our stress tenfold. Escalating international politics have also increased tension in our everyday lives. We’ve endured national disasters, some far away, while recent ones have taken lives in our own communities. Yes, the past twelve months have brought more stress into our lives than many of us would care for, so why not take advantage of the outdoor playland just outside our doorstep? Our own Tennessee state park system is a great place to start. We’ve featured several local parks in the past, but with fifty-six parks stretched across the state all the way to the Mississippi River, we’ve barely scratched the surface. Historical parks such as Fort Loudon recreate the past for the benefit of the future, while resort parks such as Fall Creek Falls on the Cumberland Plateau allow us to plan an entire vacation getaway around some of our state’s most scenic wonders. There are parks that preserve waterfalls, parks that protect unique plant communities, and others that sustain unique ecosystems found only in our state. We’re going to do our best to feature as many of these state treasures as we can in the coming months! If you have a favorite place to hike or explore that you think others should know about, please let us know! We’d love to feature it in a future article and possibly even meet some of our readers. Once again, it’s been an insane amount of fun traveling across the Appalachians and showcasing some of our favorite destinations with each and every one of you. From the rocky crags atop the highest Smoky Mountains to the grassy fields of the lowest valleys, we wish to thank you for your messages, kind words, and thoughts. We look forward to wandering with all of you to all new places throughout 2017.
Hands On Regional Museum
25 theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
JANUARY EVENTS
Every Saturday & Sunday
MAKE IT. TAKE IT. FEATURE EXHIBIT
In this DIY space guests of all ages will get to use a large assortment of everyday materials and are encouraged to create something that represents their imagination or ideas. Every few weeks the materials and theme of the space will change to keep engaging visitors with new challenges and experiences. Visitors are encouraged to take their invention, contraption, or piece of art home with them. Tuesday, December 13th - Sunday, January 8th
WONDERFUL AND WACKY WEATHER
Calling all future meteorologists! Discover a variety of weather patterns, try out our tornado tube, and create your very own instant snow. The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. Tuesday, January 10th - Sunday, January 29th
Stellar Static
You will get a "charge" out of all the fun we will be having in the lab in honor of Static Electricity Day! Cause static spheres to dance inside our static tube, and use a balloon to move objects such as bubbles, ping-pong balls, and more! The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. If you have any questions on these or other programs, please call 423-434-HAND. Admission fees apply. All programs and activities are subject to change without notice.
Hands On Regional Museum 315 E. Main St. | Johnson City | TN | 37601
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MOUNTING OPTICS
ON AN AR15
The AR15 or “Modern Sporting Rifle” is the most popular rifle platform on the market today, the Nra estimates that 5 million Americans own one and most own more than one.
Outdoor Life
By Matt Messer matt@ theloaferonline.com
The rifle is a semi-automatic version of the M16, which has been used by the U.S. Military since the conflict in Vietnam. Though it has seen various improvements through the years it is still the same basic rifle that was issued in 1965. With so many people owning an AR15 there are thousands of accessories for the rifle platform available. The most common accessory being an optic, it is also the most common accessory I see mounted incorrectly in our shop “Volunteer Gun Shop.” The reason being for an improper mount is that the AR15 or “Modern Sporting Rifle” has no drop in the stock from the check rest to the action top, unlike a traditional long gun. Most users mount the scope on a traditional rifle as close to the barrel as possible, which would be correct on a traditional long gun, but this creates a problem on the AR15. It will not allow you to get your head low enough to get a proper sight picture threw the scope. It also slows the speed in which the user can shoulder and fire the rifle accurately. There are several mounting options on the market especially designed for the “Modern Sporting Rifle” or MSR for short. Company’s like Nikon Burris Leupold just to name a few all have many different mounts on the market ranging in price from $40.00 -$200. The most popular mount we sell is a 1” riser. The riser mounts to the rifle, then your traditional rifle rings mount on top of the riser. This will get the scope up to the proper height for fast and accurate target acquisition. The second most popular style mount is a P223 mount by Nikon, this two-piece mount will accommodate very short scopes unlike the Nikon m-223 1 piece mount that will not accommodate shorter scopes designed especially for MSR’s. These are all good choices and there are plenty of items out there to get the job done right, if you have been having trouble acquiring the sight picture threw a scope on your AR15 now you know why.
YOU The Casual Word
By Langley Shazor Follow Langley at TheCasualWord
I thought i understood Had a good handle on things Love Life Relationships But then you came along And changed all my conventions I immediately realized I wanted to be yours forever All else would fall into place
Just as i have fallen for you The rest, a formality An adventure we create As we go along You have transformed my world For that, i am thankful For you, i am grateful For us, i am hopeful For you I am
Join us Saturday or Sunday, January 7th or 8th, at 4:00pm to audition for Sister Act, a high energy musical by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be a found: a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood. Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, Sister Act will leave audiences breathless. Roles for men and women ages 18 and up. Auditions will consist of a cold reading, and group singing and dancing. If you’re interested in being a soloist, please come prepared with a 1-minute song. Show dates are Fridays through Sundays, March 31stApril 23rd (excluding Easter Sunday). For more information, please contact jrteducation@gmail.com. The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is located at 125½ E Main St, Jonesborough, TN.
continued from page 22 they are gone and want to get back. You can count me in that group that left and then wanted to come back. It’s hard to believe but I’m getting close to having spent twenty years working in Information Technology. I’ve worked for a couple of different firms but am currently with Burk IT in Kingsport. Burk has been a phenomenal place to work and again offers a feeling of community that I love. Burk is owned by two guys (Brady Rose and Jimmy Orton) who are also both local products. BRIAN: Finally, you have accomplished the real-life manifestation of a dream that has been many years in the making. Tell folks about the gallery and how they can learn more. WILL: I’ve always been interested in picture framing and about six years ago I went to Charlotte and took some picture framing classes. While I was at the training I ordered a basic set of equipment and started framing in my basement. Initially I was just framing stuff for myself. That lead to framing things for friends and family. After about a year or so I pulled a business license and started framing for a wider circle of people as word of mouth spread. At some point during my basement framing adventure I met a lady named Kelly Elliott that had been a custom framer for about twenty years. Kelly become my mentor and started helping me with my framing education. In the fall of 2015 things were starting to get crowded in the basement and it seemed like the time was right to make a change. On November 11, 2015 my wife Lori and I stepped out and bought out a frame shop in Johnson City and moved the operation out of the basement to a brick and mortar retail location. Lori is an accountant and she has always taken care of the books, billing, tax filing and generally keep us on the right path. Kelly came along with us as well and has been instrumental in the store’s success acting as our store manager and lead framer. Bishop’s Art and Framing Gallery has been open for a little over a year now and has been great. We are located at 1305 North Roan Street in a house that was built in 1937. We offer a gift shop full of unique items that are made locally and regionally. Of course we also offer custom picture framing and there’s nothing we can’t frame. People can find us online at http://www.bishopsartandframing. com/ or just search for Bishops Art and Framing on facebook.
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SISTER ACT JRT Open Auditions
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Answers on page 30
Patches is a two year old female. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. Start off the New Year with this lap cat!
Sable is a 3 year old female. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. This sweet kitty has been ready for her forever home for awhile!
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 | December 27, 2016
PETS
OF THE WEEK
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theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
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THINGS TO DO Teaching on The Crooked Road Course Offered at WCC The rich history and musical traditions of Southwest Virginia will be examined in a Wytheville Community College course designed to provide K-12 teachers with the materials and methods they need to incorporate “The Crooked Road” into their lesson plans. This will be a hybrid course involving both in-class and online instruction. Teaching on the Crooked Road will be taught by David Winship, a retired public school teacher and former curator/education Director for Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music (BCM). Winship developed the Living Legacies program of the BCM for the Library of Congress Folklife Collection and has provided the Smithsonian Institution with traditional music materials. The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail supports tourism and economic development in Southwest Virginia by celebrating and preserving this Appalachian region's unique musical and cultural heritage. The Trail itself covers 330 miles and connects Rocky Mount in Franklin County to Breaks Interstate Park in Dickenson County. The class will meet for on the third Saturday of the beginning months of 2017 (January through May) from 1 – 9 p.m. at Wytheville Community College and will include attendance at WCC’s Old Time and Bluegrass Jamboree from 7 –9 p.m. There will be one Saturday field trip to the two country music museums in Bristol and the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, VA. The cost is $225.00. Music instruction is not a core element of the course and it is not necessary to play an instrument to participate. This course is
offered through Wytheville Community College – Workforce Development. For further information, contact Perry Hughes, Director, Workforce Development, at phughes@wcc. vccs.edu or 276-223-4757.
Gray Fossil Site & Museum January Calendar of Events Now - Sunday, January 15th Curious Coal Celebrate Miner's Day by learning about the link between coal and fossils. Get an up close and personal look by examining coal specimens and core samples. Programs announced periodically throughout each day. Tuesday, January 17th Sunday, February 19th Be Miocene! Our love of fossils will never go extinct, and we hope yours won't either! Join us and discover why we love the fossil specimens found right here in our "backyard" and why they have a special place in our hearts. Programs announced periodically throughout each day. 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN 37615. 423-439-3659
Solid Waste Services reminds customers of holiday procedures With the Christmas and New Year’s holidays upon us, Johnson City Solid Waste customers are reminded that garbage and recycling collection will be on regular schedule this year. Additionally, citizens are asked to please recycle their gift boxes, cardboard packaging and paper. The City does not accept foil paper or most plastic packaging. Plastic marked with a 1 or 2 is acceptable. For added convenience, the City offers five drop-off sites for recyclables. Please visit http://www.
johnsoncitytn.org/publicworks/ solidwaste/recycling/ for more information and locations. After Christmas, customers may leave live Christmas trees at the curb to be picked up on regular brush collection routes. Trees must be cleared of all decorations. Trees may also be taken to the Cash Hollow Convenience Center, 193 Cash Hollow Road. Please visit http:// w w w.w a s h i n g t o n co u n t y t n . org/departments/solid_waste/ locations for more information. Please call Solid Waste Services at (423)975-2792 with any questions.
MPCC to offer Finding Mindfulness Through Meditation class
Volunteer needed to serve on Energy Authority The Johnson City Board of Commissioners will consider an appointment to the Johnson City Energy Authority (formerly the Johnson City Power Board). The Authority works to ensure customers are provided with reliable electric service at the lowest reasonable rates consistent with good business practices by approving policies, regulations, rate structures, and annual budgets. Appointees serve four-year terms. Potential appointees must be Johnson City property owners and must be residents of the City for no less than one year. Any citizen who is interested in serving may apply online at www.johnsoncitytn.org/boards; may pick up an application at the Municipal and Safety Building, 601 E. Main St.; or may call 4346009 for an application to be mailed or faxed. Deadline for submitting an application is Jan. 20. Applications are kept on file for current year only.
Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., will offer a free course on Finding Mindfulness Through Meditation for ages 12 and older on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 10. From 3:30-5 p.m., participants will have a safe, comfortable space to meditate. Please register in person at Memorial Park Community Center, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.- Senior Services to host 5 p.m. For more information, Invigorating Wellness series Senior Services at Memorial please call 423-434-5749. Park Community Center, 510 Bert
St., will offer a quarterly series on Invigorating Wellness starting this month. Invigorating Wellness will highlight several complementary health approaches identified by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Each session costs $5 and will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The schedule is as follows: • February 21, 2017 – Massage Therapy with Janet Rice, MT • May 16, 2017 – Chiropractic with Dr. Timothy Dunne • August 15, 2017 – Supplements/ Herbs with Seth McLaughlin For more information and to pre-register, please call (423)4346237.
Tuesday Night @ the Movies Jonesborough Library Tuesday, January 3, 5:30 p.m. Celebrate the New Year with our Tuesday Night @ the Movies on January 3 at 5:30 p.m. Our show time features free popcorn and drinks. Tuesday Night @ the Movies is a free event sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County Library. For more information, please call the Jonesborough Library at 7531800.
Cryptogram: Why do right-wingers hate unions? Because collective bargaining is the power that a worker has against the corporation. Drop Quote: "Think it the greatest impiety to prefer life to disgrace, and for the sake of life to lose the reason for living."
KELLY'S
2016 BOOKSHELF Books, in whatever form you choose (hardcover, paperback, digital), still matter, and in this age of blogs and tweets they still serve as a way of presenting thoughts in a format that allows us to think deeply rather than shallowly. So, with lots of enthusiasm I present this year’s highly personal list of the best books of the year. As usual, you will immediately notice that this list is made up, with one exception, of nonfiction titles. Obviously, you can agree or disagree with my choices. After all, that’s what lists are for. Lists, after all, tell us you more about the listmaker than about the items appearing on the list.
Kelly’s Place
By Jim Kelly since 1989 jkelly@ theloaferonline.com
Let’s begin with my choice for Book Of The Year (a very difficult decision, given the particularly large number of candidates). One of my favorite essayists, Chuck Klosterman, has written a book that every American should read: BUT WHAT IF WE’RE WRONG: THINKING ABOUT THE PRESENT AS IF IT WERE THE PAST. Starting with the premise that “It’s impossible to understand the world of today until today has become tomorrow,” Klosterman asks us to think about the past (and the present) in totally different ways, especially when it comes to the questions we ask of both past and present. Wrong questions generally produce wrong answers. Read this book and prepare to be surprised, amused, and often jarred from your complacency. Three books should be read in conjunction with Klosterman, particularly in light of this “post-truth” age in which we live. Daniel J. Levitin’s A FIELD GUIDE TO LIES: CRITICAL THINKING IN THE INFORMATION AGE, Cathy O’ Neil’s WEAPONS OF MATH DESTRUCTION: HOW BIG DATA INCREASES INEQUALITY AND THREATENS DEMOCRACY, and Abby Smith Rumsey’s WHEN WE ARE NO MORE: HOW DIGITAL MEMORY IS SHAPING OUR FUTURE, all concern themselves with the question of how we can know what is true in an environment when facts and truth are more tenuous than ever, and in a time when “big data” is increasingly defining what is important and significant. As a person who has difficulty with simple math and science, I have done quite a bit of reading about physics this year. Not physics textbooks, mind you, but writing about the importance of physics as a way of understanding fundamental human questions. This portion of my bookshelf includes Carlo Rovelli’s SEVEN BRIEF LESSONS ON PHYSICS, Stephon Alexander’s THE JAZZ OF PHYSICS: THE SECRET LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE (a book that appeals to my love of jazz and improvisation), Richard A. Muller’s NOW: THE PHYSICS OF TIME, and James Gleick’s TIME TRAVEL: A HISTORY (a book not entirely to devoted to physics, but a thought-provoking overview of why we are so fascinated by the idea of time travel). Before we leave the field of science, I would be remiss if I didn’t include two books on my overcrowded shelf: Siddhartha Mukherjee’s THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY and Thomas Rid’s THE RISE OF THE MACHINES: A CYBERNETIC HISTORY (for those of you who are interested, and perhaps frightened, of our robotic future). Music lovers will find many titles published this year of interest. I have chosen these five to be representative. First, whether you play the guitar or not, you should read Brad Tolinski and Alan Di Perna’s PLAY IT LOUD: AN EPIC HISTORY OF THE STYLE, SOUND, AND REVOLUTION OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR (a book I reviewed a few issues back). Although there was a lot of attention lavished on the Beatles this year--with a Ron Howard movie and a book celebrating the band’s activities in 1966--the best music biography is Rich Cohen’s THE SUN & THE MOON & AND THE ROLLING STONES, a fascinating personal meditation on the meaning of the Stones in our lives by an author who spent considerable time with them and worked with Mick Jagger to produce the TV series, “Vinyl.” And I couldn’t agree more with his conclusion that “As I tell my sons, pick one
thing to be good at. In the end, it’s only the playing that matters.” Second, if you enjoy intimate conversations with very creative people, by all means read Haruki Murakami’s ABSOLUTELY ON MUSIC: CONVERSATIONS WITH SEIJI OZAWA. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of classical music, you should enjoy Ozawa’s takes on the way he approaches conducting a symphony orchestra and his fondness for forays into bars where they play the blues. My fourth selection is Ben Ratliff’s EVERY SONG EVER: TWELVE WAYS TO LISTEN IN AN AGE OF MUSICAL PLENTY, a book that captures what it means to be a music fan at a time when streaming music is more important than owning it. And, last but not least, you should read Thomas Dolby’s (“She Blinded Me With Science”) fascinating memoir of a life in music and technology, THE SPEED OF SOUND. My love of movies and TV was fed this year by three books: Thomas C. Foster’s READING THE SILVER SCREEN: A FILM LOVER’S GUIDE TO DECODING THE ART FORM THAT MOVES (think of it as a “Movie Guide For Dummies”), Peter Ackroyd’s ALFRED HITCHCOCK: A BRIEF LIFE, and film critic David Thomson’s first foray into the world of television, TELEVISION: A BIOGRAPHY (a sumptuous coffee table book with a scene from “Poltergeist” on the cover). As a history teacher always in search for new perspectives and interpretations, I was especially intrigued by these two books (among several others): Frank Trentmann’s EMPIRE OF THINGS: HOW WE BECAME A WORLD OF CONSUMERS, FROM THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY TO THE TWENTYFIRST, and Peter Frankopan’s THE SILK ROADS: A NEW HISTORY OF THE WORLD. I also recommend that you include Steven Johnson’s new book about the influence of play in our history, WONDERLAND, and Newsweek columnist Kenneth L. Woodward’s analysis of the role played by religion in modern American history: GETTING RELIGION: FAITH, CULTURE, AND POLITICS FROM THE AGE OF EISENHOWER TO THE ERA OF OBAMA. The lone fiction book I alluded to in my opening paragraph is also a work of imaginative history, firmly grounded in the realities of slavery--Colson Whitehead’s awardwinning novel, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. Some odds and ends. If you want to understand more about the world of social media, and its implications for shaping culture, you should read the revelatory and deeply disturbing study by Nancy Jo Sales (of “Bling Ring” fame), AMERICAN GIRLS: SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE SECRET LIVES OF TEENAGERS. If you want to be more productive at work and at home, and can’t seem to stop being distracted by your gadgets, consult Cal Newport’s DEEP WORK: RULES FOR FOCUSED SUCCESS IN A DISTRACTED WORLD. And how can I possibly claim this list to be representative without mentioning Amy Schumer’s touching, hilarious, and heartfelt memoir, THE GIRL WITH THE LOWER BACK TATTOO? So, there we have it. A much-too-long column about the importance of reading. I hope you will pick and choose the items in this and find at least one title that appeals to you. See you next week. In the meantime, I wish you and yours a very meaningful and safe New Year’s eve and day.
theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
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theloaferonline.com | December 27, 2016
32