Page 2 | The Loafer | December 15, 2015
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December 15, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 3
STAY SAFE! Don’t Drink & Drive
Volume 30 • Issue #2 Publisher Luci Tate
Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Terry Patterson Lori Howell Beth Jinks-Ashbrook Don Stuck Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Brian Bishop 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 (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising) 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
happenings 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 19 23
Alert Cab offers cab rides for Xmas & New Years “The Nutcracker” ushers in holiday splendor “A Christmas Story” is Live on Stage! Annual Celebration of Trees Exhibit Collaborative Christmas Concert WQUT Marine Corps Toys for Tots Blues Christmas NewSong at NPAC Carter Family Christmas Show Civic Chorale presents Gaudete! Christmas Contra Dance Hip Hop Soiree
music & fun
14 24
Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku
columns & reviews 12
Batteries Not Included - Judging by The Lights
16
Stargazer - Belt of Venus and More Sky Sights
17
Skies This Week
18
Screen Scenes - Love The Coopers
20 The Trivial Traveler - Minot? Why Not? 21 22
Mountain Movers - The Matt Whisnant Interview Pets Of The Week
25 26
Lock, Stock & Barrel - Quality over Quantity Kelly’s Place - Gastrophysics, Taylor Swift, and a Certain Punctuation Mark
Page 4 | The Loafer | December 15, 2015
Alert Cab Offers Reduced-Rate Cab Rides for Adults Celebrating Christmas and New Years ----------------------
Area bartenders and servers at participating bars and restaurants have a confidential phone number they may use to request a reduced-rate cab ride for adults who want to get home safely at the end of the evening. By offering these discounted rides home, Alert Cab keeps potential drunk drivers off the road. This year’s sponsorship is for $2000 which is divided into discount cards to be given to participating retailers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving fatalities have declined 44 percent since 1982. Here in Tennessee, drunk-driving fatalities have declined 55 percent since 1982.
As adults head out to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s, they can “do the ride thing” by taking advantage of a free program that can help keep Johnson City’s and Kingsport’s streets safe. Holston Distributing Company along with W.W. Taxi Company of Johnson City and Cabbie Cab of Kingsport are sponsoring Alert Cab, a community-based initiative that helps prevent drunk driving by providing safe cab rides home to adults who may have had too much to drink. Alert Cab starts December 18th at 6pm and is running through 6:00am January 2nd 2015
0ver 200 Safe rides home were given during last year’s program
Since 1989, more than 1.4 million safe rides home have been provided by Anheuser-Busch nationwide For more information about Anheuser Busch’s Social Responsibility Programs, please visit www.anheuser-busch.com, visit our facebook page at facebook.com/Holstondistributingcompany or call Holston Distributing at 423-975-5200
Alert-Cab is a program that falls under our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agreement with Anheuser-Busch where we put a part of our sales dollars towards community bettering initiatives.
---------------------www.anheuser-busch.com
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December 15, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 5
“The Nutcracker” ushers in holiday splendor City Youth Ballet of Johnson City performs ballet Dec. 18-20
“The Nutcracker,” performed Dec. 18-20 by the City Youth Ballet of Johnson City, brings to stage an enchanting story of a young girl’s Christmas journey and provides audiences with a show of classical ballet at its best. City Youth Ballet’s rendition of this holiday classic is a familyfriendly affair with dancers not only on stage, but also performing in the auditorium where they arrive at a Victorian era Christmas party. After the festive gala, a mysterious uncle bestows on Clara, the host’s daughter, a Nutcracker doll that later comes to life. It battles ferocious mice backed by a corps of
soldiers. Clara, now accompanied by her Nutcracker prince, continues her journey through a blizzard of dancing snowflakes and on to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy orders up a feast of dances from around the world. This year’s Sugar Plum Fairy role is shared by Sarah Ann Kenneson and Hannah Thigpen, both of Johnson City and students at Science Hill High School. Clara is danced by 12-year-old Mia Garbe, a student at T.A. Dugger Middle School in Elizabethton. Diamond LaGrave of Tallahassee, Florida, returns as the Cavalier and Snow King. This year, Darien and Tif-
at $13. Doors open one-half hour before the performances. For more information call the City Youth Ballet at 423-434-2195, visit us at www.cityyouthballet. org or find us on Facebook.
cityyouthballet.org
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fany Chancellor, professional ballroom dancers, appear in the Arabian dance with ballet choreography by Kassi White, a CYB instructor and associate director. “Our performances appeal to the ballet lover as well as those who just enjoy a lively holiday story,” said Susan Pace-White, owner and artistic director of the City Youth Ballet. “This tradition has thrived for decades thanks to the hard work of these dancers as well
as the loyalty of our audiences.” Four performances are set for Dec. 18-19 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 19-20 at 2:30 p.m. at Milligan College’s Gregory Center. General admission tickets are on sale at Bear ‘n Friends Toy Shoppe on North Roan Street in the Peerless Center, Peace by Piece Studio Gallery, 127 Spring Street, in downtown Johnson City, (checks or cash only at outlets) or at the door. Adult tickets are $16; children 12 and under
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“A Christmas Story” is Live on Stage! Ralphie Parker will be on a quest to get an official Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun under the tree when Encore Theatrical Company closes its ninth great season with “A Christmas Story, The Musical!” This stage version of everyone’s favorite holiday movie will play this weekend, Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20, at Walters State Community College in Morristown. While searching for his prized BB gun, Ralphie encounters everything from kooky leg lamps to pink bunny pajamas to cranky department store Santas. Based on the classic 1983 movie, “A Christmas Story, The Musical” captures holiday wonder with such deliciously wicked wit that it is sure to delight children and grown-ups alike. “This show has been crazy fun to bring to the stage,” said Drew Ogle, Encore’s managing director, who is also serving as stage director for this production. “We have a large cast ranging in age from 6 to over 60 who has been working hard over the last 5 weeks to bring this tale to the stage, and maybe even introduce it to a new generation. It will be a great way to ring in the holiday season.” Audiences may remember that Encore closed its first season in 2007 with a stage version of “A Christmas Story.” However, this is a completely different production, and the biggest difference is that this year’s show is a musical. This version premiered on Broadway in 2012 and has quickly become one of the most popular holiday productions around the country. Bringing this musical to life along with director Ogle is choreographer Allison East, whose work was last seen this summer in Encore’s “Cabaret.” Lee Akins is the show’s musical director and Mary Wallen is the stage manager. Making his Encore debut in the role of Ralphie Parker is Alec Phillips. Alec is an eighth grader from Newport who was previously seen in “Riversong-The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” at Greeneville’s Niswonger Performing Arts Center and in “Les Miserables in Concert” with the Newport Theatre Guild. Joining Alec is an ensemble of
28 actors and musicians, including some familiar Morristown theatre faces as well as more newcomers like Alec. The cast includes Brant Adams, Teresa Adams, Mikki Brooks, Elizabeth Doswell, Devon Drybread, Allison East, David Freeman, Faith Guillen, Zadita Hewitt, Cheyenne Hewitt, Will Holt, Steven McCoy, Nicholas Noble, Ralph Noble, Sean Norris, Tara Oglesby, Gregg Perry, Macie Rogers, Connie Sexton, Ian Sexton, Kelli Sexton, Stephen Smith, James Templin, Hannah Grace Wallen, Troy Wallen, Amy Webb, Joe Wilaniskis, Steve Wilaniskis, and Kim Wilaniskis. “In addition to the actors, musicians, and crew, who donate their time and talents, it takes a lot of financial support to bring a show like ‘A Christmas Story’ to the stage,” said Ogle. “We could not
do it without the support of our sponsors.” “A Christmas Story, The Musical” is being presented in honor of Alex Rom-Roginski. Major sponsors include Pete and Sami Barile, Andy and Sandy Smith, Morristown Pediatric Dentistry, Lakeway Regional Hospital, First Tennessee Foundation and FTB Advisors, MUS/Fibernet, the Citizen Tribune, Tarr Chevrolet, Lakeway Dermatology, JTEKT Automotive, McKenna Orthodontics, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Performances are December 18 and 19 at 8pm. Matinee performances are December 19 and 20 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for Seniors, and $12 for Students and Youth. For tickets, call 423-318-8331 or visit the Encore website at etcplays.org.
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Annual Celebration of Trees Exhibit The Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center & Old Town Emporium Gift Shop will be hosting the annual Celebration of Trees, a unique exhibit of beautifully decorated live Christmas trees running through 20. This year’s exhibit will feature eight trees in the gift shop and lobby area. Each tree is sponsored and decorated by area individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations. A Jonesborough tradition for more than 26 years, hundreds of visitors come through the doors to view the trees as well as shop at the Old Town Emporium. It’s a great attraction and photo opportunity for families and groups during the holiday season. Tree sponsors and decorators for the 2015 exhibit include DillowTaylor Funeral Home, Tuesday Garden Club of Jonesborough, Schubert Club of Jonesborough, FCE Home Club, Jonesborough Civitan Club and Jonesborough Genealogical Society. New decorators and sponsors
include Cub Scout Pack 130, Walgreens of Jonesborough and the Jonesborough Yarn Exchange. Another popular activity during the Celebration of Trees is the coveted “People’s Choice” award. The award is determined by public vote during the exhibit’s duration and has been awarded to a different group each year. The Celebration of Trees is free and open to the public on display
through Sunday, Dec. 20 during the Visitors Center & Old Town Emporium’s regular business hours of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information the Celebration of Trees exhibit, contact the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423-753-1010 or visit historicjonesborough.com.
Congratulations to Style Boutique on Winning The 2015 Merry Merchants Window Competition
Style Boutique downtown Bristol has been voted first place in the window decorating contest! On Monday, November 23, during the annual Downtown Christmas Open House, Style Boutique caught the eye of many and became the second recipient of the Merry Merchants Window Decorating Competition Award hosted by Believe in Bristol’s Design Committee. The merchants were challenged to make the best “Very Merry Window” and the winner was decided by judges from the Believe in Bristol Design Committee. “Style had a very unique display of suspended tree limbs bearing ornaments, live Fraser Fir Christmas Trees and an evening gown made entirely of evergreen limbs. A well-deserved honorable mention goes to Kil’n Time Studio and Bristol Ballet as very
strong runner-ups in this contest. They clearly put a lot of thought and energy into what they did, as well. The creativity and the participation from all of the merchants was outstanding and helped to make downtown festive and ready for the holiday season,” stated Chris Chandler, Chair of the Believe in Bristol Design Committee. The prize awarded was a plaque to showcase the win and $100 to Piedmont Station! The window display will remain up throughout the holiday season. Thank you to everyone that participated, we look forward to seeing what you come up with next year! Style Boutique is located at 606 State Street, Bristol, TN 37620.
Photo Credit: Randall Dalton
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Community Choirs Present
Collaboartive Christmas Concert Appalachian Men’s Ensemble (AMEn) and Cantemus Women’s Choir will present “Christmas in the Air” on Friday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 E Market St, Johnson City. The concert will feature performances of both familiar Christmas tunes and original compositions that celebrate the season. AMEn and Cantemus will perform separately and combine for several pieces. Highlights include excerpts from Ralph Vaughan Williams “Hodie,” as well as arrangements of “The Holly and the Ivy” by Ola Gjeilo, and “Ding Dong Merrily On High” by Mack Wilberg, accompanied by four-hand piano. The program is rounded out with sing-along carols accompanied by guest organist, Matthew Brickey. AMEn is an all-male vocal ensemble of auditioned voices from throughout the greater Tri-Cities area. AMEn’s programming and presentation of music is vast and
varied, featuring a capella pieces, accompanied songs, pop arrangements, and classical works from a variety of cultures. AMEn was founded in the fall of 2013. Dr. Alan Stevens is the artistic director. Cantemus (Latin for “Let us sing”) was founded in summer 2014 and is composed of experienced female singers from the TriCities area. The ensemble is dedicated to exploring the beauty and versatility of music written and arranged for women’s voices, with a goal to provide talented women with exceptional musical and interpersonal experiences. Patty Denmark is the artitic director. The concert has a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, contact AMEn at AppalachianMensEnsemble@gmail.com. Concert updates and additional information about each ensemble can be found at: www.Facebook.com/ AMEnEnsemble www.Facebook. com/CantemusWomensChoir
Cross Stitch @ the Library Washington County Gray Branch Library 5026 Bobby Hicks Highway
If you love to cross stitch, or would love to learn how to cross stitch, please join the Cross Stitch group at the Washington County Gray Branch Library! The Cross Stitch group meets the 2nd and 4th Monday each month at 6:00 p.m. All levels are welcome and instruction for beginners is available. Bring your own project or work on ornaments for the Gray Library Christmas tree. The Gray Library Christmas tree will be decorated by local area arts and crafts. The tree will feature cross stitch and quilting. Have a craft that would make a great addition to our craftthemed tree? Please contact the Washington County Gray Branch Library at 477-1550.
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WQUT Marine Corps Toys for Tots Blues Christmas
Duane “Catfish” Frye of Catfish Frye Band playing harmonica
Billy Crawford of Billy Crawford Band playing guitar
6th annual WQUT Blues Christmas, to benefit the Marine Corps Reserves Toys For Tots Program. Friday and Saturday December 18 & 19 at the Down Home, 300 W. Main St. in Johnson City 7:30pm both nights Friday night, it’s Catfish Frye Band followed The Billy Crawford Band and on Saturday, it’s Samantha Gray followed by Bluesman & The Blues Essentials. Admission is (at least) one new, unwrapped toy and $3 per person. Enjoy two night of great blues and help us make sure that as many kids as possible wake up with a new toy on Christmas morning.
Samantha Gray of Samantha Gray Band
George Ferrell of Bluesman and the Blues Essentials
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NewSong
Thursday, Dec 17 at NPAC
GRAMMY® nominated NewSong is set to bring their popular “Very Merry Christmas Tour” to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. You will not want to miss the only local performance of the tour this holiday season! The tour will also feature fan favorites Building 429, whose project, We Won’t Be Shaken, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart. Also joining the tour is Plumb, who had runaway success with her hit single, “Need You Now,” and introducing, Reno. One of America’s most beloved Christmas songs, NewSong’s emotion-packed #1 radio hit “The Christmas Shoes” spawned a series of New York Times best-
selling novels and two top-rated CBS television movies. The group has recorded 19 studio albums, garnering 20 #1 Christian radio singles and a GRAMMY® Award nomination, in addition to being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. NewSong’s unparalleled 30-year ministry has been highlighted by such defining songs as “Arise, My Love” and “Rescue.” Catch NewSong and friends at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $35 for orchestra level seating, $30 for mezzanine level seating and $25 for balcony seats.
Groups of 20 or more receive a 20% discount. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-6381679. This performance is sponsored by Baker Donelson. NPAC offers online seat selection with no processing or delivery fees. There is a $1.50 ticketing fee per ticket regardless of purchase method. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am until 5 pm. The 1150 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
Send a letter to the North Pole via Santa’s Mailbox Children are invited to mail a letter to Santa at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St. Through Monday, Dec. 21, Santa’s Mailbox will be accepting letters without postage Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m-5 p.m. Santa’s helpers will pick up the letters from this special mailbox and make sure it gets to the North Pole before Christmas Eve. Letters must be submitted by Dec. 21 with a return address so Santa can respond. For more information, please call (423)434-5749.
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Carter Family Christmas Show with Carolina Express
Saturday, December 19th, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a special Christmas program. In lieu of admission, please bring a donation of canned goods for the local food bank (suggested amount $10 per person). Those not bringing a canned goods donation are asked to make a donation of $10 for adults with all proceeds going to the Food Bank. Anyone under 12 will be admitted free of charge. Those attending are asked to bring finger foods, two-liter drinks, and cups, plates, or napkins. Christmas music will be performed as refreshments are served. Afterwards, we’ll have music by Carolina Express. Musicians donate their time for this special Christmas show. Carolina Express was formed by brothers Jonah and Grayson Riddle. Jonah is 16, and Grayson is 11. Growing up in the mountains of western North Carolina, Jonah has been playing the banjo for 4 and ½ years now. From the first time he picked up the instrument, he fell in love. He started out playing at church three times a week. Because he enjoys bluegrass and gospel music so much, he decided to start his own band – Jonah Riddle & Carolina Express. Jonah’s
brother, Grayson, plays guitar and does vocals. He has been playing guitar for almost 2 years. From the time he was only 5 years old, he would pick the guitar at church services. Jonah and Grayson credit the Lord for their playing and singing talent. Their dad, Benjie Riddle, plays the upright bass. The Riddles are bringing along an outstanding fiddle player – Mary Rachel Nalley – who plays fiddle for the Kody Norris Band. Jonah and Grayson have had the privilege of picking on stage with many great artists – Doyle Lawson, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Balsam Range, Ralph Stanley II, Nu Blue, Ricky Skaggs, J.D. Crowe, and Kody Norris – just to name a few. They have performed many concerts all across the U.S. The Ryman Auditorium Courtyard, the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, Woodsongs, the Lyric Theatre in Kentucky, Houstonfest, the Orchard at Altapass, the North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival, Bluegrass First Class in Asheville, North Carolina, the Earl Scruggs Center, the Pickin’ Porch, and the Museum of Appalachia are just a few of the events and venues they have played. Members of Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Start, they have performed at IBMA Kids on Blue-
grass in Raleigh, North Carolina. They have won several awards during the time they have been performing such as Best of Show and individual awards for playing their instruments. The Carter Fold is excited to welcome Carolina Express for their first performance there, and we’re very grateful to them for donating their time and talent to this special Christmas show. Come out and join us at the Carter Family Fold for a special Appalachian Mountain Christmas celebration. It’s a great opportunity to hear some of the best music our region has to offer and to support a good cause at the same time. More people than ever need assistance from our nation’s food banks. Many of them simply don’t have enough resources to help everyone in need. Help us make this a record year for the amount of canned goods donated. The A.P. Carter birthplace cabin will be specially decorated in the mountain Christmas tradition – including hand-strung garland. Spending time with us during our Christmas celebration will take you back to a time when the true meaning of the season wasn’t lost in the commercial frenzy of modern-day Christmas. Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold. org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http://thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.
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䴀愀欀攀 礀漀甀爀 栀漀氀椀搀愀礀 猀栀漀瀀瀀椀渀最 攀愀猀礀 眀椀琀栀
䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀 ∠ 匀栀漀攀猀 ☀ 䘀甀氀氀 䌀漀洀瀀氀椀洀攀渀琀 漀昀 䄀挀挀攀猀猀漀爀椀攀猀℀ 匀欀愀琀攀戀漀愀爀搀猀 ☀ 䈀䴀堀 䈀椀欀攀猀
Judging by The Lights
匀琀漀爀攀 栀漀甀爀猀㨀 吀甀攀猀搀愀礀 ⴀ 匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀 愀洀 ⴀ 㘀瀀洀
The great American Christmas tradition of outdoor decor is one that I look forward to each year. Family tradition for years has been a ride around town during the second week of December to take a look at houses. This year was no exception, only this year the events in the car took more of an HGTV competition feel. The standard which we hold all houses to is the Ross family homestead, which has been decorated exceptionally well each Christmas (No, they don’t pay me to say that). Naturally, part of the fun of looking at the lights each season is playing “Spot the Griswold House,” which sometimes becomes plural quickly. But none of that was the case this year. What stood out very quickly was not how nicely, or poorly, or how over the top some of the houses were decorated. Instead, what stood out was that hardly any at all were decorated.
“Well, this is just depressing” my mother said after going through the second neighborhood with few and far between decorated houses. This is when the HGTV commentary came in. Quiet, small comments about which houses looked nice, or which ones were little effort. A house bathed in the glow of floodlights: “Now that’s more like it! I love how that looks. Wait, is that the kitchen there in the left front? Ooh, I’d hate for my kitchen to be there. Is that small? You’d think with a house that big they’d do more with the kitchen!” A house with just a dinky line of rope lights along a fence: “Well. They tried. Sad, but it’s better than these houses who did nothing.” This year the blend was not only less homes decorated, but hardly a Griswold house in sight. There’s one house you can always depend on to be perfectly Griswold, and that’s the house you see traveling
down the 11E towards Greeneville, right around the Jonesborough Flea Market. If you’re the owners of that house and you’re reading this, thank you. I enjoy seeing your home every year. When I get a home of my own one day, I’ve often said that what I want to do most for my decor at this time of the year is simple. Flood lights, and in the most prominent window, a leg lamp. Classy, simple, and easily identifiable. I suppose there maybe some in the neighborhood who would object to the glow of electric sex in my window, but to them I will simply say that they are scrooges who wouldn’t know a good time if they fell into it. If you’re own home is decorated and my mother and I should drive by, don’t be shocked if you find a comment car in your mailbox. See you next week.
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Civic Chorale presents Gaudete! December 19
At 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 19 at First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City, The Civic Chorale will present Gaudete! a program of traditional carols and new compositions for the Christmas season. The church is located at 105 South Boone Street. While there is no admission charge for the concert, donations are gratefully accepted at the door, with a $10 suggested donation. The program opens with Good News, composed in 1988 by Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke. This is followed by Gaudete, a collection of carols from the 16th century collection Pie Cantiones, as arranged by Anders Ohrwall for chorus, flute, oboe, and bassoon. The first half of the concert concludes with the late Stephen Paulus’s evocative setting of O Little Town of Bethlehem, for choir, harp, and oboe. The second half opens with three traditional carols, and then features four ancient traditional texts in 20th and 21st century musical settings. After André Thomas’s lively setting of the spiritual Go Where I Send Thee, the Chorale sings our traditional Christmas program closers: Still, Still, Still and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The Civic Chorale was founded in 1973 by Robert LaPella with a small group of invited singers and Jane LaPella as the gifted accompanist. Over the years, the group has grown to become the region’s premiere auditioned volunteer chorus. In addition to singing the standard choral repertoire from Gregorian chant to recent compositions, the Chorale has presented numerous world and regional premieres and frequently collaborated with other music organizations in the region, including the Symphony of the Mountains, the
Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, and the East Tennessee Children’s Choir. Since 1998, the Chorale has been led by conductor David Hendricksen. Accompanists are Lisa Runner, piano, and David Runner, or-
gan. For additional information, visit the Chorale web site at www. thecivicchorale.org or contact the conductor by phone at 423-6380409 or by email at conductordavid@embarqmail.com
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JAMES MEADOWS - TUESDAY - Dec. 15th DOWNTOWN COUNTRY at Jiggy Ray’s 6:30pm
FISH FISHER
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
at Quaker Steak & Lube
INSIGHTS / EARTH SUITS WAITING FOR PAVEMENT at The Hideaway 7pm
SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country) at The Family Barn 7:30pm
- WEDNESDAY - Dec. 16th OPEN MIC
JAMEN DENTON & WISE OLD RIVER
MAT BURKE
STATE LINE BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR
at WoodStone Deli
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- THURSDAY - Dec. 17th MARK LARKINS at Salsarita’s
THE CRYPTOID THE KINDEST PEOPLE AH POOK at Capone’s
TOKYO ROSENTHAL at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at Natural Tunnel State Park SUPER BOB at Capone’s
COAL CREEK w/ BIG DON at Country Club Bar & Grill 8pm
An Evening of Bluegrass w/ BARRY BALES at Capitol Theatre - SATURDAY - Dec. 19th OPEN JAM at Kosher Pickle SUNDOWN BAND (Country)
JAZZ
at The Family Barn 7:30pm
JAMES HATEM & THE TRANSFERS
(Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) at David Thompson’s Produce 7pm
at Wellington’s - Carnegie Hotel 8pm at The Acoustic Coffeehouse 8pm
- FRIDAY - Dec. 18th THISTLE DEW
at Jiggy’s Ray’s 7pm
at Kgt. Town Center
at Yee Haw Brewing Co. 7pm
TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT w/ CATFISH FRYE BAND (Rockin’ Boogie Blues)
at Sleepy Owl Brewery 8pm
at Blackbird Bakery
JUSTIN MYCHALS
at Sleepy Owl Brewery 8pm
JAZZ 251
FORD THEATRE REUNION RYAN WARD at Uncorked 7pm
THE PLUM SMUGGLERS at Elizabethton Elks Lodge 9pm
SOUTHERN REBELLION at 50Fifty Sports Tavern
SHOOTER
(Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) at The Show Palace 7pm MICK KYTE at Jiggy Ray’s 7pm
KEVIN BUTTRY w/ AUSTIN CRUM EXPERIENCE at Capone’s
DIFTWOOD
at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm
ASHLEY HEATH
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
BILLY CRAWFORD BAND at Bone Fire Smokehouse
- SUNDAY - Dec. 20th JACOB GREEN
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at The Shack 7pm
at The Down Home
TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT w/ SAMANTHA GRAY BLUESMAN & THE BLUES ESSENTIALS at Down Home 7::30pm
TUESDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke At Bristol VFW - BTN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - JCTN ***********************
THURSDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Macadoo’s 8pm Karaoke At Holiday Inn - JCTN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JCTN ***********************
FRIDAY
at Johnson City Moose Lodge
at Blakckbird Bakery
KARAOKE
KaraokeAt Bristol VFW - BTN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JCTN Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ DJ Marques At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - BVA Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
AMERICAN GONZOS JAKE & THE COMET CONDUCTORS
at The Down Home 7:30pm
A CAPELLA CHRISTMAS MUSIC
at Country Club Bar & Grill
MARK LARKINS
SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country)
BILLY CRAWFORD BAND
ROAD TRIPP
MATT HALL YULETIDE JAZZ QUARTET at Uncorked NOSTALGIA BAND (50’s - 80’s)
at Peerless Steakhouse Lounge 7pm
BLUEGRASS
at Carter Family Fold
NIGHTSHIFT
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
JERRY PHILLIPS BAND
CHRISTMAS SHOW RIDDLE & CAROLINA EXPRESS
CHRISTMAS SHOW OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- MONDAY - Dec. 21st OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
BLUEGRASS JAM
at Hardee’s (Boones Creek)
SATURDAY
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JCTN Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Macado’s - Kingsport ***********************
SUNDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JCTN ***********************
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Spotlight Directory
50 Fifty Sports Tavern 2102 N. Roan Street Johnson City Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 Blackbird Bakery 56 Piedmont Ave. Bristol VA 276/ 645-5754 Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon VA 276/623-0037 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423/928-2295 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons VA 276/594-0676 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 Elizabethton Elks Lodge 1000 N. Sycamore St Elizabethton 423/ 543-2341 Family Barn 15559 Lee Hwy Bristol VA The Hideaway 235 E. Main St Johnson City 423/ 926-3896 Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100 Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton 423/ 518-1500 Johnson City Moose Lodge 1801 W. Lakeview Dr. Johnson City 423/926-6400
Kosher Pickle 3900 Bristol Hwy Johnson City 423/ 979-7000 Natural Tunnel State Park 1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway Duffield, VA 276/ 940-2674 Peerless Steakhouse Lounge 2531 N. Roan St. Johnson City 423/ 282-2351 Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St Bristol VA 276/644-9647 Salsarita’s 200 Linden Square Bristol VA 276/ 591-1260 The Shack 4231 Ft. Henry Drive Kingsport 423/212-3110 Show Palace 14364 Lee Hwy Bristol VA 276/494-6610 Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423/390-8476 Uncorked 316 Broad St. #102 Kingsport Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City 423/979-6400 The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Woodstone Deli 3500 Fort Henry Dr Kingsport 423/245-5424 Yee Haw Brewing Company 126 Buffalo St. Johnson City
Christmas Dance to feature Big Band Theory
Citizens are invited to put on their dancing shoes and join Senior Services on Friday, Dec. 18 for an elegant evening with the Big Band Theory. Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., will host the festivities from 7-10 p.m. Dress is semi-formal. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance at the MPCC Senior Services desk for $12 each. For more information, call (423)434-6237.
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Belt of Venus and More Sky Sights There’s a beautiful time in the sky that is taken for granted, that hour of twilight before sunrise and after sunset that are filled with astronomical things we see nearly every day. I’m talking about the Belt of Venus, the Golden Hour, Civil Twilight and even the Zodiacal Light. You’ve probably experienced them all, without really knowing what you’re seeing. Let’s take tonight’s sunset, assuming it is clear and free of clouds. When the Sun dips below the western horizon, turn your back to it and look east. As the sun sets, you begin to see in the eastern horizon a pink to brown band stretching along the horizon. This is the “Belt of Venus,” referring a myth involving the Roman goddess of beauty, Venus. As twilight continues, this beautiful salmon band of light rises, and below it is a dark band of grays and black. This is the shadow of the Earth, projected into space. Both the Belt of Venus and Earth’s shadow climb higher above the eastern horizon as twilight deepens. And the colors of salmon, pink and cream that mingle along the beautiful Belt of Venus change constantly. The higher they rise, the sharper the bands. What is happening is a backscattering of reddened sunlight. Remember, rays of light act like a particle, bouncing like ping-pong balls. Light also acts like a wavelength, bouncing off particles in our atmosphere and taking on various colors. It’s the fine dust particles in our atmosphere that create the colors in the open sky. If there is a band of clouds along the horizon that are reddened, this is called “alpenglow.”
light. Another curious twilight time is called “Gloom.” This is when the light level is so low that the human eye cannot discern color, everything looking monochrome, dull and depressing. One elusive phenomenon that is best seen over the ocean is the “Green Flash” the Sun exhibits right as the last edge of our star dips below the horizon. Many cruise ship passengers have seen this momentary burst of green light that is purely an atmospheric illusion of sunlight passing through Earth’s thick atmosphere. Two astronomical sights are hard
Belt of Venus and Earth’s shadow from Univ. of Tennessee Physics Building, Neyland Stadium to the right. (Photo by Paul Lewis) That explains the “Belt of Venus,” which is seen nearly every clear sunset and named after the Roman goddess of beauty. But how did the name originate? Research shows it actually is probably a reference to the “wonder bra” Venus is depicted as wearing in ancient artwork. But more about that after we look at some other twilight phenomena. Like twilight itself. Specifically, the three different twilights defined by the position of the Sun below the horizon. Civil Twilight is defined as the time when the Sun is at the horizon to 6 degrees below it. Artificial light is not needed; objects are clearly visible. The Moon, Venus and Jupiter will poke through the dimmed sky. Next is Nautical Twilight, defined when the Sun from 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. This is when street lights begin to turn on, and this
twilight usually ends when the horizon is no longer visible. The brightest stars are coming out. Astronomical Twilight is the time when the Sun is 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon. This is the end of day and beginning of night, and the stars have come out to play. There is no exact time for the duration of each of these defined twilights because the length changes with the seasons. But basically from sunset to the end of Astronomical Twilight is around an hour. The hour after the Sun dips below the horizon or before it rises above it is revered by professional photographers for its soft light, and they call it the “Golden Hour” or “Magic Hour.” This is because the light is diffused with no shadows, and everything glows in true color. There is also a time during twilight called the “Blue Hour,” with a romantic connotation of the time when the sky is deep blue in twi-
to see, but not so difficult with diligent attempts: Zodiacal Light and Gegenschein. First is the long cone of light that can be seen after sunset or before sunrise on moonless times from dark sites. This pillar of light spans nearly half way to overhead and is made up of billions of tiny dust particles in outer space. Best seen in the Autumn and Spring when the Zodiac of constellation is nearly straight up and down, the Zodiacal Light is always worth looking for. One of the most elusive lights in the sky also has the funny name, Gegenschein. The word is German for “opposition effect,” referring to this spot in the sky directly overhead around midnight. This is the exact opposite side of the Sun, or the anti-solar point, and under extremely dark conditions Gegenschein can be seen as a faint glow of light, maybe 10-20 degrees wide. This is also interplanetary dust
that is weakly reflecting sunlight. You need the right conditions, but it is possible to check off your astro bucket list the sight of Gegenschein. Finally, back to Venus and her famous belt, or girdle, or wonder bra. The stories are numerous about his great goddess of mythology, also known as Aphrodite in Greece. It was Homer in his Iliad that he writes that Aphrodite “loosed from her bosom the curiously embroidered girdle into which all her charms had been wrought.” The pastel hues of this atmospheric belt around the twilight horizon reminded the ancients of the feminine skin, and somehow the belt, or girdle—or wonder bra!—of Venus was brought about. There are several famous statutes and paintings showing Venus removing a bra-like garment, and others showing her with a belt. Though not a popular part of the Venus myth, she none-the-less is shown with the intimate garb. So next sunset (or sunrise), check out this beautiful orange cream band of light that honors the maiden Venus. It’s something your mind can embrace!
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December 15, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 17
Monday Dec. 21
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Dec. 15th - 21st, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. This is the last official week of Autumn, and Old Man Winter is knocking at the door. So, we are experiencing the last week of these dark days, because after the Winter Solstice on Dec. 22 the days get longer.
Tues. Dec. 15
The north constellations are highlighted by Cassiopeia the Queen, whose five brightest stars now look like an “M” branded in the sky. There are several wonderful clusters of stars in this constellation, easy targets for binoculars.
Wed. Dec. 16
A string of starlight lines up along the western horizon, making a special holiday sight. The first stars of the celestial lights after sunset will probably be zero magnitude Vega, the brightest and to the far right. Next to poke through the violets of twilight will be first magnitude Altair, to Vega’s
left. Both stars are very white, their light violently twinkling in the refraction of our atmosphere. Above will be Deneb, the third star of the setting Summer Triangle.
ancient seas of frozen lava.
Sat. Dec. 19
For that two brief hours of deep twilight and early evening, the Milky Way is visible standing Thurs. Dec. 17 straight up in the west between Most “baby-boomers” would Vega, in Lyra the Harp, and Altair, come close to guessing the date of in Aquila the Eagle. It an interestthe historic Apollo 11 moon land- ing part of the sky as seen through ing in July (20), 1969, But who can any binoculars. correctly guess the first powered Sun. Dec. 20 flight through the air? On this 1903 On this 1978 date in space hisdate in history on a beach at Kitty tory, the Soviet Union’s Venera 12 Hawk, NC, Orville Wright flew spacecraft landed on Venus. The the airplane he and his brother lens caps on both cameras failed Wilbur built in Dayton, Ohio. to come off, a design flaw, so there Fri. Dec. 18 were no photos (clear lens caps, The Moon is at First Quarter used now, would have solved that tonight, a beautiful sight directly problem). But other data on the south after sunset. The bright atmosphere, soil composition and star to the left is Fomalhaut, “the electrical energy were successfully Lonely One” as it is the only bright transmitted for almost two hours star in the area. Use binoculars or a before the vehicle failed under the small telescope to see the wonders crushing atmosphere and 900 F. of craters, mountain ranges and degree surface temperature.
Winter Solstice it tomorrow Dec. 22 at 4:48 am when the Sun stands over the Tropic of Capricorn. On this 1968 date in space history, the world was excited as the world’s
most powerful rocket, Saturn V, blasted off Cape Kennedy, Florida with Apollo 8 atop and three astronauts bound for an orbital mission to the Moon, 240,000 miles away.
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IN THEATRES NOW Box Office Top 10
In Theaters Now
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)
“Love the Coopers” Can you name all the movies set at Christmas that involve family gatherings that begin as a disaster but everything turns out great in the end? Two recent films come to mind for me, “Four Christmases” and “The Family Stone”. Add the new film “Love the Coopers” to the LARGE list of Christmas movies with such a theme. For me, however, no film will ever top “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” as tops for the “family gathering” theme. Hollywood never gives up on dysfunctional families during the holidays so we have this new comedy starring Diane Keaton and John Goodman as Charlotte and Sam Cooper, a longtime married couple on the verge of divorce (filled with holiday cheer yet?) who are determined to put on a brave front for their annual Christmas Eve family get together. Before the gathering begins, we are introduced to all the Coopers, including Ed Helms as Hank Cooper, Olivia Wilde as Eleanor Cooper, and Marisa Tomei as Charlotte’s sister Emma. Alan Arkin is also featured as Charlotte and Emma’s dad Bucky. Other family issues include Hank struggling his wife Angie (Alex Borstein) leaving him, the forever single Eleanor bringing a pretend boyfriend home with her, and Emma getting arrested for shop lifting on Christmas Eve. You know, your average Christmas Eve events. As the family gathers, not only is Eleanor’s fake boyfriend on hand, but a local waitress named Ruby (Amanda Seyfried) who was invited by in-
As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance.
The Night Before (2015)
On Christmas eve, three lifelong friends, two of whom are Jewish, spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their archnemesis, while his best pal Charlie Krampus (2015) A boy who has a bad Christmas Brown begins his own epic quest ends up accidentally summoning back home. a Christmas demon to his family home. Spotlight (2015) The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive Creed (2015) The former World Heavyweight scandal of child molestation and Champion Rocky Balboa serves cover-up within the local Catholic as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Archdiocese, shaking the entire Johnson, the son of his late friend Catholic Church to its core. and former rival Apollo Creed.
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.
Spectre (2015)
A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
Brooklyn (2015)
An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a new romance. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
Secret in Their Eyes (2015)
A tight-knit team of rising investigators, along with their supervisor, is suddenly torn apart when they discover that one of their own teenage daughters has been brutally murdered.
IMDb.com (12/12/2015)
vited by Bucky, is at the Coopers as well. Oh, and there are three grand-kids, one of which has a proclivity for spouting a shocking statement. Not long after the meal begins, Hank and Angie have a heated argument which leads one of the grand-kids to throw mashed potatoes their way. Are we having
The film also features the required “funny elderly person” fun yet? Another heated exchange character, here called Aunt Lucy, happens between Charlotte and and I half expected her to burst Emma, which I’m sure results in out with the Pledge of Allegiance one of the characters being rushed when it was time to say grace. Anto the hospital. As expected, the other Christmas film stable, snow, family emergency leads all the is front and center thanks to the characters to find peace with one Pennsylvania setting. To me the another, which should come as no most likable character in the film shock to anyone over the age of 12. was the Coopers pet dog, who was
a gift from a past Christmas. In a pleasant twist, the film is actually narrated by the dog, thanks to the vocal talents of Steve Martin. Did I “Love the Coopers”? Let’s put it this way, if I was invited to their house for the holiday’s, I would take the dog and leave.
Rated: PG-13
C-
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Christmas Contra Dance
The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society and the Jolly Ole Elf will hold a dance extravaganza on Saturday December 19, 2015 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street at 7:00pm featuring “Sassafras Stomp” from Maine with Warren Doyle calling the dance. Admission is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. A class for newcomer contra dances will run from 7:00-7:30pm. The dance will go from 7:30-10:30pm. Dancers are invited to bring their favorite holiday desserts for the 9:00pm intermission. Dancers are invited to waltz from 6:00-
received a bass guitar instead of a Bar Miztvah, and things have gone downhill since as his musical career took off from there. He discovered high octane, traditional fiddle music at the little contra dance in Trenton, Maine. Soon thereafter, he bought a guitar and a pair of leather soled cowboy boots. He also performs as a songwriter. Adam and Johanna also operate Songbird Farm, a certified organic, mixed vegetable farm on the bank of the Sandy River in western-central Maine. Along with a variety of other crops, they grow sweet potatoes, watermelons, dry beans and an heirloom New
7:00pm to recorded tunes. “We do country dance waltz compared to ballroom style waltz” offers David Wiley, event organizer. The folk waltz is quite different; it’s sometimes described as a “one-step waltz”. You still do three steps: right, left, right — but the second and third are pretty much on the spot; the first step is where you do most of the travelling. It really isn’t forward-sidetogether; it’s step-two-three, step-two-three. If you concentrate on the first step and let the other two just happen, you’ll find the whole thing much easier. Turn your shoulders and your feet will follow — it sounds silly, but it’s absolutely true. HJDS is planning a series of waltz workshops in the new year to teach country waltz. Johanna Davis, part of the Sassafras Stomp duo, sings and plays fiddle and sometimes banjo. She grew up in Round Pond, Maine and started playing the fiddle in the 4th grade at Waldorf School. She grew up in a thriving community of dancers and contra dance musicians, and yes, she was one of those little kids with a sleeping bag at the dance hall. Adam Nordell plays guitar, sings, stamps his feet in syncopated patterns and sometimes plays the banjo. He grew up in the hills south of Helena, Montana. At age 13 he
England flint corn whose ancestry may just trace back to the Abenaki Indian farmers who historically cultivated the Sandy River bottom-land. They have been known to bring bags of cornmeal from their crop to share with friends along the way. Warren Doyle is the co-founder of the Appalachian Folk School located near Mountain City, TN. For forty years, Doyle was an educator for area colleges, hiked the Appalachian Trail, danced and called dances all over the country. His folk school houses the Appalachian Trail Institute where prospective trail hikers come for extensive training and orientation before their journey begins. Now retired, Doyle travels far and wide to continue his journey as caller, dancer and hiker. He served on the HJDS board for several years helping to building the dance tradition here and produces a very popular dance weekend in Morgantown, WV called Contradancers Delight Holiday the last week of each year. For more information on Saturday’s dance or any upcoming events, please call David Wiley at 423-534-8879 or visit www. historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org. Or the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.
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Minot? Why Not? I know that this column has only been up and running for a few months now, but I think we can all agree that today’s item covers the most trivial of all my travels to date. Minot, North Dakota, is so ‘meh’ that the folks at Wikitravel had once rigged it so that their page on Minot was a redirect when a user queried “Purgatory”. To be fair though, I have not walked among the Minotians, nor have I partaken in their local cuisine and traditions. Yet all of that considered, I still feel that I can cross Minot off my bucket list with total impunity. I passed through Minot a few summers ago, riding Amtrak’s Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. You see, not long before, I had discovered that Amtrak sells something called a ‘Rail Pass’ with which any intrepid traveler can ride Amtrak trains wherever and whenever he or she likes over a set period of time - the length of which is proportional to the purchase price of the pass. Upon hearing about this amazing deal, I ordered one, packed my bags and went off to spend a week riding all over the country. I figured that if you don’t mind sleeping, eating, and even showering (!) on the trains, you can see the entire country for just a few hundred dollars. In fact, in just over a week, I saw the Empire State Building, the Space Needle, Death Valley, and Bourbon Street. Not a bad vacation. I enjoyed it so much, I actually did it again
the following year with a different itinerary. So that’s how I came to find myself in Minot. Fortunately for me, and the Minotese Board of Tourism, the refueling stop there came during the daytime. Had it been dark, I would have missed it altogether, as I had lost myself in the transcendent bliss of an Allman Brothers concert on my iPod and was trying to get whatever sleep is possible in coach accommodations. Even as it was, I was sitting on the wrong side of the train, so I darn near missed the bustling metropolis altogether. Fortunately, my friend and copilot Wes, whom I’d met just hours before, pointed out the sign informing us that we, as honorary Minoterians, were now at (or more likely near) the geographic center of North America. Well, that’s something. So I passed my camera over to Wes, who was kind enough to lean across the aisle and snap a photo for me. Good people on Amtrak. So here we have a view of the Minot train depot, enticing all visitors with the Minotwegians’ solitary claim to fame. And I can proudly say that I’ve been there. Felt welcome too. Granted, this piece doesn’t really have any interesting commentary about the history or relevance of Minot and its place on the world stage, but what more could you expect from Purgatory? Pure Minotony.
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within me probably more than any other person in my life that the mission of every Christian and the local church is to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community. Whether it was going to help serve food at homeless shelters, late night visits to the hospital to minister to hurting families, or just praying for or helping random people throughout the course of living life my father has been an example of what it means to live like Christ. How can people truly start to grasp the love Christ has for them if we as Christians are not showing that love day to day through the way we live our life? BRIAN: As an adult, you worked for the City of Kingsport for a while. When did you decide to go into ministry and what caused that change in direction for you in your career? MATT: Right after my beautiful wife Amy and I were married I started in a position with the Athletic Department for the Kingsport City Parks and Recreation. I definitely enjoyed my job there and got to work with many wonderful people. As time went on I kept sensing that the position I was in was not supposed to be my lifetime career. As I started praying through what God might want me to do, I felt strong that I should look at pursuing ministry full-time and maybe God was leading in that direction. Dr. Walter Crouch did that experience affect you as been a community church leader who was my pastor at the time you went on to college? your entire lifetime. He has obvi- had encouraged me to see where MATT: Soccer was a huge part ously shared his passion for God God might be leading my passions of my life. In a lot of ways grow- and community with you. How and if I sensed He might be leading up, that’s where I found my has growing up around the local ing me into ministry then to just identity. The soccer field was the Church environment impacted step out in faith and pursue it. He place where I felt comfortable you? encouraged me to step out in faith and was the one thing I excelled MATT: Like I mentioned earlier and that if God was in it, He would at during high school and on into I grew up most of my childhood open the door and if not that door college as I was named to the all- and adolescent days in Kingsport. would close and He would guide state team while in HS and later We moved here when I was start- me in a different direction. In played under scholarship in col- ing the fourth grade and my dad the summer of 2000 my wife and lege. My ability to play soccer at a has been in the same position on I stepped out in faith to pursue high level definitely helped build staff at First Baptist Kingsport for ministry and I have been amazed my confidence in other areas of over 30 years. The local church how God has always provided my life. I was also blessed to play and my faith in Christ have played and continually open doors for me with many of the same players the biggest role in influencing my to serve. I have had many opporthroughout high school on both life and my father has been a huge tunities. While in seminary I had the club and school level. A few part of that. He has always taught the chance to work at a church for of whom I continued to play with me the importance of first seek- over 4 years while at the same time in College. Like any sports team, ing after God with all your heart be the Park Chaplain for Six Flags there is a bond and friendship and the importance the church Over Texas. Later as we moved to built among teammates that are to plays in that role in shaping you California God opened the doors this day very special to me. into the person God has called us for me to do youth ministry and BRIAN: Your dad, Mitch, has to be. My dad has also instilled lead worship at various churches.
The Matt Whisnant Interview Growing up here is a great springboard to do whatever you want and go anywhere you imagine. Matt Whisnant is a living example of that. But he has found the path for his life ultimately lead him back to his hometown and he has never been happier. BRIAN: Matt, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. We grew up as close friends and I know you are someone folks will want to get to know. You grew up in Kingsport, what are some of the ways that shaped you as a person? MATT: I have grown up in Kingsport since 1984. I love the area and have been involved in the community. Grew up in a strong Christian family where my father still works at First Baptist on Church Circle. Growing up soccer was a huge passion of mine. I played at Dobyns-Bennett and then down the road at CarsonNewman University. Soon after college I worked for the Kingsport Parks and Recreation helping supervise the various sports leagues. In the year 2000 I felt led to go into the ministry and moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas to attend seminary. From seminary my wife and I then moved to California and just over three years ago we have moved back to Kingsport where we now call home. I enjoyed growing up in a small town but didn’t think much about until my wife and I had moved away and left the area for over 12 years spending time in Texas and California. Since being back in Kingsport, we realize what a wonderful place and privilege it is to live here. BRIAN: You were a soccer standout at Dobyns-Bennett. How
December 15, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 21
I also had the privilege of working as a Bible and Leadership teacher at an amazing Christians HS while coaching soccer. I have continually been amazed at how God has provided ever since I stepped out in faith to serve Him in ministry. BRIAN: You and I could fill this entire magazine with stories, so I encourage folks to get to know you when your paths cross. But the only way to adequately end things here is to give you an open invitation to tell us about things that are coming up with your church and in the community. Go. MATT: Just over 3 years ago my wife and I felt that God was maybe leading us to move back home closer to family and it was neat to see how the details worked out. We definitely didn’t think we would be back in Kingsport this soon but have loved being near family and realize how special Kingsport truly is and enjoy calling this place home. I currently serve on staff as the worship and student pastor at Colonial Heights Baptist Church. I am excited about what God is doing in our church to reach the community. It is a wonderful place to serve and we have many different activities to be involved in. Most importantly I am proud of our church and our senior pastor Greg Burton who truly seeks to reach others with the love of Christ. I have worked in three states from the east to west coast. I have served in leadership in 6 churches over the past 15 years so I know that no church is perfect because we are dealing with imperfect people. But if you are looking for a place to belong and be loved on. If you are looking for a place where you can be yourself. If you desire a place where you can serve and be the hands and feet of Christ then you should check out Colonial Heights Baptist. I am excited about what God has in store for the future of this church and I am blessed to serve at such a wonderful place. A lot of things have shaped me in my life but if I were to narrow it down to what I would want my life to be about it would be about teaching people how much God loves them through Jesus Christ. I want to be used by God to help others fall more in love with Him and seek to love others as Christ has loved us.
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Pets Of The Week
Gracie is a 2 year old Shepard mix she is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. She is a sweet girl and loves to play!
Kiki is a 9 month old Retriever mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. She is ready for her forever home! Please come and visit Gracie and Kiki and their friends at The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue!
Country Breakfast!
It’s that time again. Come hungry to Fairview United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 19th (3rdSaturday each month), to have a great country breakfast of bacon, fresh ground sausage, eggs, pancakes, gravy and biscuits and more! Cost is by donation. Located 5 miles from downtown Jonesborough going towards Fall Branch at 878 Highway 81 North. Plenty of time to get there between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to enjoy the fellowship and food.
The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue recently moved in to their new 7,300 sq foot building @ 2061 Hwy 75 Blountville, TN,37617. The Bridge Home is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2002 dedicated to the welfare of homeless or abandoned animals. They provide care and compassion for stray and unwanted cats and dogs until they can be adopted into a forever home. 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?fref=ts.
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Sullins Academy Student Artwork Displayed in Historic Downtown Bristol
The Arts & Entertainment District is hosting the 5th Annual Student Art Gallery in Downtown Bristol. In an effort to “Cultivate Bristol’s Creativity,” the district has invited the local schools to help us beautify our community by providing art to decorate the front windows of the former Hayes Furniture Building on State Street. “The Student Art Gallery is a vital part of the A&E District,” says Maggie Bishop, Associate Director for Believe in Bristol. “We have really great young talent in the area that is important to showcase. Seeing the expression and personality that comes out of each student tasked with the same project is one of my favorite aspects of the gallery.” Each school or group that participates has a month-long period to display their students’ art in the space. The second gallery of art went up today, showcasing art from students in the K-5th
grades at Sullins Academy. Sullins Academy is a premier coeducational, preschool through grade 8 independent day school which provides a positive educational environment, fostering academic excellence while maintaining a commitment to the core values of integrity, honesty, respect, responsibility, and service to others. Jennifer Byrd’s students looked at the beautiful art in Japan of Sushi making, quickly realizing the
shapes, colors and orange designs are truly works of art. “We then began the task of making our own beautiful plates of sushi from collage, the art form of using other textiles to make an image that is 3-D,” Byrd said. “We used tissue paper, crepe paper, foils, string, foam and lots of paper scraps to create these stunning art works! Everyone from kindergarten through fifth-grade thoroughly embraced the idea and made lots of original and very interesting pieces! Please enjoy these as each child’s individual expression of a beautiful Japanese tradition transformed!” Artwork by the students from Sullins Academy will be on display at the Hayes Furniture Building until December 31, 2015. For more information, please contact Maggie Bishop at Believe in Bristol at 276-644-9700, Maggie@believeinbristol.org, or visit the website at www.believeinbristol.org
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Hip Hip Soiree
A variety show to benefit Just Cause Local radio personality and host of Women on Air, Susan Lachmann, will perform a benefit show to introduce Just Cause at The Down Home on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Just Cause provides portable, cigar box art studios to children and families in crisis. The show will feature music, stories and an audience participation game modeled after NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!” called “No, Really, I Got This!” There will be prizes and lots of laughs. “It’s all about audience participation and includes vocal improv and some techniques I learned from Bobby McFerrin, when I studied with him at the Omega Institute,” Lachmann says. “This is not come to sit and listen and applaud. This is come to engage, participate, laugh. My last name does translate, after all, to laughing one.” Just Cause is Lachmann’s brain child and the culmination of her nearly four decades of experience
in arts, education and behavioral health. “This is an idea that I’ve been percolating since 2012,” she says. “I spend my days in behavioral health working with families in crisis. I bring materials and tools to them a lot, to manage distress. So that is where Just Cause comes in. It’s a give away.” Lachmann adds, “Just Cause brings art boxes to kids in crisis just ‘cause art is good medicine. Personal creativity is both empowering and healing.” Performing with Lachmann will be Will Bledsoe on guitar, Greyson Bledsoe on bagpipes and Aaron Clark on drums. Tickets are $10 at the door. The Down Home is located at 300 W Main St, Johnson City, TN 37604. Susan Lachmann has been involved with arts and education for nearly four decades as a performer, teacher, facilitator and behavioral health professional. She can be contacted at 423-444-2972 or susanlachmann@gmail.com.
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Quality over Quantity Anyone who’s been shooting more than a year likely remembers the recent ammo shortage. This was due primarily to hysteria linked to rumors of a second Assault Weapons Ban that threatened the availability of certain types of ammunition, especially .223, .40, .45, and .22 Long Rifle. This was about the same time I attended National Rifle Association Pistol Instructor School. To qualify for this course I had to take a precourse written exam, and then the first day of the course I had to do a shooting and practical examina-
tion. For the shooting qualification I had to shoot an 8 inch target at 15 yards, I could use any handgun with iron-sights, and had to get 9 out of ten in the target twice. As you can imagine I was quite nervous and practiced for weeks in advance to prepare for this qualification. About five weeks before I was scheduled for training I started going to my closest gun store with a range which was in North Wilkesboro, NC. I had a bull-barrel Ruger Mark III that I was going to use to qualify. I trained week after week
qualifying every time I shot, until the day before training finally came, I was so jittery that I just had to drive to North Wilkesboro and shoot one more time. I had been shooting CCI Mini Mag up to this point but because this was during the shortage I was paying over $20.00 for 100 rounds. So I decided for this trip I would buy 100 rounds of American Eagle instead. So I go downstairs to the range and get my target set up, my mags loaded, and I sent the target out to 20 yards (Because I was training for and 8” target at
15yrds I trained using a 6” target at 20 yards). I fired my first string of ten, and brought the target in, my heart sank to the floor, I didn’t qualify. I tried again and didn’t qualify. I was beginning to think something must be wrong with my gun, which was terrible because I had to qualify for real the next morning. So I went upstairs and explained my situation to the manager who I’d come to know over the preceding weeks. I asked him if he could shoot my gun and see if he could find the problem. He grabbed a handful of loose shells from his desk drawer and followed me downstairs. We sent a new target out to 15 yards and he shot the shells he’d brought with him. He got all ten in the target. I died inside, it wasn’t a problem with the gun it was a problem with me! I was doing something terribly wrong causing me to fail. I quickly recovered and asked if he could watch me try again and see if I was doing something wrong. He agreed and said “Hey shoot the rest of these” handing me the rest of the shells he’d brought with
him. I loaded the mag and sent a new target out to 15 yards, and got all ten in the target. Now I didn’t know what to think. Seeing me having an internal panic attack the manager asked me what ammo I was using, I told him American Eagle, he asked if that was what I was going to use to qualify, I replied no and told him I intended to use CCI Mini Mag. He said I should shoot a mag of those to see how I do, so I loaded a mag of CCI and sent out yet another target, this time not only did I qualify I exceeded both of our previous shots with his mystery ammo. That’s when all the pieces fell together and we both learned the value of quality ammo. The moral of the story is using the cheap stuff can mean the difference between qualifying for instructor School and not. I went on to complete Instructor School earning the nickname “Deadeye” because I shot so well. As always I hope you enjoyed this article, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me, I look forward to your feedback.
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Gastrophysics, Taylor Swift, and a Certain Punctuation Mark As we prepare to partake of numerous seasonal foodstuffs and send who—knows—how—many text messages during this Christmas season, we should give some thought to exactly what we are doing. After all, we don’t want to spoil our holiday by a misplaced period or the choice of the wrong food while listening to our favorite style of music. Yes, things do get a little crazy this time of year—and I’m not talking about our presidential candidates. Read on. The first item concerns a miniscule thing that we all take for granted. What I’m talking about is the lowly period that appears (or doesn’t) at the end of our sentences, especially those used while texting. According to a peculiar little study reported in the December 8 edition of The Washington Post, “text messages ending with a period are perceived as being less sincere, probably because the people sending them are heartless.” And, even worse, people using periods to end their text messaging sentences may also appear rude. This study, which involved only 126 undergraduates at Binghamton University, found that text messages ending with periods were perceived quite differently than sentences with no punctuation. And for some strange reason, the participants didn’t register any positive or negative reactions to periods or no periods when they appear in handwritten notes. The Binghamton researchers, in true academic fashion, write that “Text messaging is one of the most frequently used computermediated communication (CMC) methods. The rapid pace of texting mimics face-to-face communica-
tion, leading to the questions of whether the critical nonverbal aspects of conversation, such as tone, are expressed in CMC.” Got that? What they are actually saying—translating English into English— is that periods at the ends of text messaged sentences can be perceived as being downright rude, and those who end sentences with periods are generally perceived as jerks. That’s news to me, mainly because I am one of those people who insist of crafting text messages that are grammatically correct. And I certainly don’t think of myself as a jerk—regardless of how others might perceive me. And it’s okay that my daughter makes fun of my MLA-styled texts. In a related story found in the November 25 online edition of The New Republic, Ben Crair interviews Mark Leiberman, a University of Pennsylvania linguistics profess, who relates that his 17 year old son “noted that many of my texts to him seemed excessively assertive or even harsh, because I routinely used a period at the end.” Have you ever experienced this
situation? Don’t worry, you will. The coming year promises to be the Year Of The Unpunctuated, Un-Ended Sentence. Awl editor Choire Sicha tells Crair that “The unpunctuated, un-ended sentence is incredibly addicting,” and that she feels “liberated to make statements without emphasis, and like I’m continuing the conversation, even when I’m definitely not.” And, yes, there is a study to support Sicha’s contention. American University did research into the texting habits of college students and found that they (we are not told the sample size) only used “sentence-final punctuation”
thirty –nine percent of the time in text messages. Seems the trend is to abruptly end sentences with no punctuation, whether in texts or Twitter-like communication. If you are interested in pursuing this topic further, Crair urges you to read Keith Houston’s Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks. In this book, Houston suggests that we might be seeing the end of an era when it comes to our old friend the period. We should be prepared for the use of more exclamation points, ellipses, and what some are proposing as a new form of text-chat, the “irony mark.” Of course, I have no intention to stop using periods. Go
ahead, call me a rude jerk. In a related—or maybe only I see it as related—note, we should also be prepared to link our eating habits with our music preferences. According to a tantalizing and tasty column appearing in the December 9 issue of the online Details magazine, scientists working in the field of “gastrophysics,” have found that, like fine wines, we should carefully choose the type of music we play while eating certain foods. The heading of this column makes the rather bold claim that “Taylor Swift Makes Chinese Food Taste Better, Says Science.” Well, I guess if science
says it’s true, it must indeed be true. Hannah Ongley, the author of this piece, refers to a study produced by the University of Oxford which claims that “playing ‘Shake It Off’ while indulging in an order of sweet and sour pork can elevate the experience to unrivaled heights of gastronomical delight.” And the study also found that the seven hundred subjects who participated in this study were asked to taste the pork while listening to Justin Bieber’s hit song “Baby,” “it basically ruined all the food.” Why am I not surprised, although I like some of the Bieb’s new music? Charles Spence, a University of Oxford psychologist, lauds the new field of gastrophysics as being an “exciting area,” one that shows “how soundscapes and music come together with taste to make the whole experience more stimulating, more enjoyable, and possibly even more memorable.” He adds that “It’s a kind of digital seasoning.” Wonder if it makes any difference what kind of music we are listening to while we are texting our unpunctuated, period-less sentences? We are anxiously awaiting this study, which is no doubt in progress somewhere. In case you wondering, Spence recommends pairing the following types of music with their appropriate foods: Curry and Indie Rock, Chinese with Pop, Italian with Opera and Classical, and Sushi with Jazz. Interestingly enough, Spence found that listening to Dance and Hip-Hop “had no effect on taste experience.” Unfortunately, he doesn’t specify which specific musical selections or artists go best with these foods. Wonder what goes best with Vienna Sausages? Maybe this is where Justin Bieber fits in. I will leave you to contemplate all this fascinating and bizarre stuff while I end this sentence with a definitive period. And I will wish you a very Merry Christmas (without a period, not wanting to appear rude or jerky) See you next week with some more seasonal reflections, riddled with periods.
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