Page 2, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
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June 10, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 28 Issue #27
Publisher - Bill Williams • Editor/Graphic Arts Director - Don Sprinkle • Office Manager - Luci Tate Cover Design - Bill May • Photography - Mark Marquette Advertising - Dave Carter, Akey Kincaid, Terry Patterson Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette, Pat Bussard Published by Tree Street Media, 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.
Page 4, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY 12 Traits Of A Great Father 1- He’s a good disciplinarian
9- He challenges his kids
A good father loves his children, but he doesn’t let them get away with murder. He strongly disapproves of his children’s misdeeds, using tough love to prove a point. He does this through the power of his words, not his fists.
A father wants his children to be the best they can be, and gives them challenges that help them grow as human beings. This means giving them some liberty to face setbacks and resolve conflicts on their own. Or it could be a task, such as building something for the house.
2- He allows his kids to make some mistakes
A good father realizes that his children are human, and that making mistakes is part of growing up. Spending money recklessly, getting into minor car accidents, getting drunk and sick for the first time, even dating questionable women are rites of passage, and a good father recognizes this. However, he makes it clear that repeated irresponsibility won’t be tolerated.
10- He teaches his children lessons
A father figure is the prime source of knowledge in the ways of men, and teaches his kids accordingly. From shaving to being courageous, a father molds his kids into well-rounded members of society. He especially instructs them in proper etiquette, on being honest and keeping their word, and on being thankful.
3- He’s open-minded
11- He protects his family at all costs
A good father understands that times, people and tastes change over the years, and doesn’t try to maintain some gold standard of his own time. For instance, he realizes that body piercings are more commonplace than before, that more couples have premarital sex, and that people talk more candidly about personal issues. In other words, he allows his children to be citizens of their day and age.
As the main provider of security and necessities, a father will do whatever he can for his family. He’ll take a second job to provide for them, and he’ll put his own safety on the line to keep them out of harm’s way. This is how a father instills in his children the importance of personal sacrifice.
12- He shows unconditional love
4- He teaches his children to appreciate things
A good father never lets his children take what they have for granted. From the food on the table to the good education he’s paying for, a good father will make his children see the value in everything they have. He’ll ask his child to get a job to help pay for a part of his first car, and take the time to illustrate how important a good education is. He doesn’t let his kids treat him like an ATM.
5- He accepts that his kids aren’t exactly like him
Everyone is different and a father knows this well. He won’t expect his kids to live the same kind
of life he does, and do the same kind of work. He also respects their values and opinions, as long as they don’t harm the family or anyone else. 6- He spends quality time with his children A dad knows how to have fun with his kids too, taking them out to games, movies, and supporting their sports teams by attending their matches. He takes
the time to listen to his kids and have a good, easy chat with them. He also makes time to help them with their homework, every night if necessary. 7- He leads by example A good father is above the old “do as I say, not as I do” credo. He will not smoke if he doesn’t want his kids to do it, and definitely won’t drink heavily. He teaches them to deal with conflict with a family
member and with others by being firm but reasonable at the same time.
8- He’s supportive & loyal
Although he may be a football fanatic, if his son doesn’t share his love for the game, he accepts it. He may be loyal to his alma mater and dream of having his kid follow his legacy, but if his son prefers to study abroad, he’ll support his decision to take a different path.
This is the greatest quality of a good father. Even though he gets upset at his children’s faults and may lament that they did not attain what he hoped for them, a father loves his children no less for it. he is. And take the time to make yourself just as grand.
Give
props to Dad!
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Niswonger Performing Arts Center Announces 2014-2015 Season Schedule For listing of 2014-2015 Season, visit www.npacgreeneville.com The Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN, has announced their 2014-2015 season schedule. Tickets will be available for purchase at 10 am, Monday, June 16th. “The 10th anniversary season of NPAC features over 40 performances,” said Tom Bullard, Executive Director of NPAC. “Performing artists this season represent many genres and nationalities including Canada, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, China, Africa, and The Netherlands. There is also a wide variety of children’s and family programming including matinee performances.” “From country and bluegrass, to jazz and Contemporary Christian, NPAC offers an outstanding selection of entertainment options for a wide audience. We also offer nofee ticketing. There are no service charges or order fees regardless
in the orchestra, mezzanine or balcony sections, or they may choose 5 or more performances and save 10% on the price of each ticket. We also offer discounted group rates to groups of 25 persons or more and we have discounted season ticket packages that offer substantial savings when compared to individual ticket prices.” Tickets may be purchased online
The Bacon Brothers - August 8th, 2014 of whether you purchase online, by phone, or in person at our box office,” added Angie Wilson, Managing Director of NPAC. Since opening in December 2004, NPAC has hosted hundreds of concerts and events. The facility contains over 1100 seats and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit venue. NPAC provides programming, perform-
ing arts education, lifelong learning experiences, and discovery/ exploration of the performing arts in a region encompassing East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina. “This season we are offering a variety of ticket options,” said Bullard. “Guests may purchase individual seats for any performance
at www.npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. NPAC is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For additional venue information please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
Page 6, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
Matt Hagan Makes A Splash in Thunder Valley NHRA Funny Car Driver Ranks Winning at Home Track High on His Wish List
Accustomed to pedaling a 10,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled Funny Car down the track in less than four seconds at speeds exceeding 300mph, Funny Car driver Matt Hagan paddled at a different speed yesterday – racing down Bristol Dragway’s Beaver Creek in a human-powered kayak. “It was really cool to get out here, splash around a little bit and just kinda cut up,” said the 2011 Funny Car champion. “It brings you back down to Earth. You have so much stuff going on and to come here, have a couple hamburgers, drink a few bottles of water and get out there and break a sweat paddling away – it’s just a cool deal.” When Hagan returns to Bristol Dragway next weekend for the 14th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, he’ll trade his kayak in favor of a machine more suited to turning on win lights at a track located just two hours from his Christiansburg, Va. farm. “Honestly, I love Bristol. It’s a home track for me,” said Hagan. “We have so many fans, family and friends come out. I want nothing more than to win a Wally here and be able to celebrate with them, let them pass it around, let them take pictures then definitely party afterwards. “It’s just a great experience to
have so many people come out and know that they’re supporting you. They want to see you, they’re rooting you on and to do that here at Bristol – it would be huge for me to pull down a win next weekend.” The Don Schumacher Racing driver and his team have found speed on Bristol’s legendary quarter-mile, co-owning the track’s Funny Car MPH record with teammate Jack Beckman (317.05mph, June 2013), but after notching a category-record five wins last year and placing second in the 2013 Championship standings, the early rounds of 2014 have admittedly been a struggle. “This year has been tough. [After last year’s success] we really thought we’d start this season on a high note, and it just really hasn’t gone that way or the way we wanted it too,” he said. “We were really in a test mode [at the beginning of the 2014 season], trying new things, and it took a while for us to figure out it wasn’t going
to work so we’re back to our old car, our old combo, everything we won all those races with last year. It’s coming around, so I’m really excited to get out here to Bristol and lay the hammer down out here in front of these fans.” And while winning for his fans, particularly those friends and family filling the Thunder Valley grandstands, is important to the 32-year-old, it is the indescribable high of celebrating with the crew who made his performance possible that he finds most motivational. “It’s a family to me, and I never want to let my family down,” remarked Hagan. “Honestly, these guys, I see them more than I do my family, and they’re my brothers. We want to win together; we work together and turn win lights on together. It’s a cool feeling when it all comes together on Sunday and you turn four win lights on and you’re holding the trophy up there at the end of the day. “It’s just an experience – you can’t buy it, you can hardly describe it to somebody. You just know that you all had one common goal and at the end of the day that goal came together and it all worked. That’s why I get up every morning, put a smile on my face, grab my helmet, crawl in that racecar and strap to a 10,000 horsepower racecar.” Hagan and his NHRA counterparts fire their electrifying machines in Thunder Valley next weekend, and tickets to experience the body-thrumming, bloodpulsing power are still available. Call (855) 580-5525 or visit www. ThunderValleyTix.com and reserve your seat today!
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9th Annual Highlands Camera Club Exhibit
“Surrounded by Architecture” Opening at Arts Depot in Abingdon
Opening on June 12, 2014 in the Arts Depot’s Founders Gallery is an exhibition of photographs by members of the Highlands Camera Club in their ninth annual show. The show, titled “Surrounded by Architecture”, will continue through July 19th. Everyone is invited to a “meet-the-photographers” dropin reception on Saturday, June 14th between 2-4 PM. During the first two weeks of the exhibit the Club invites the public to vote for their favorite photographs which will decide the “Peoples Choice” awards in several categories. The Highlands Camera Club was established in 2005. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the Washington County Library in Abingdon, VA. The club’s purpose is to “promote the use and appreciation of photography as a science, art form, and hobby...” The club provides technical assistance, instruction, and fellowship and serves as a venue to promote the exchange of ideas experience. Anyone with an interest in photography as an art, hobby or vocation may join the club. Annual membership fees are $20 per family. Guests are welcome to attend two meetings before joining. Information can be found on their facebook page or by calling club president, Gwen Patton 423-212-0726. Participating Photographers: Jim Cowan, Frank Renault, Myra Renault of Abingdon, VA; Gwen Paton and Fred J. Martin of Kingsport, TN and Richard Meade of Norton, VA.
Frank Renault “Cherry Blossoms at Jefferson Memorial” Gwen Patton ”Lucerne Shopping”
Page 8, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
Bristol Senior Show Choir’s
Tunes From the Ole’ Jukebox Set for June 13 at Abingdon Senior Center
The indomitable Bristol Virginia Senior Show Choir is at it again, with a new spring/summer show that will knock your socks off, “bobby” or otherwise! This energetic group of 65 senior adults will perform TUNES FROM THE OLE’ JUKEBOX - a rollicking combination of music, antics and comedy - on Friday, June 13, at Abingdon Senior Center. While long gone in this day of I-Pods and MP3 music, the idea of the Ole’ Jukebox has not been forgotten. The choir invites you to return with them to that nostalgic era when the jukebox was the main source of hit tunes, where you will hear songs from favorite artists, movies, children’s shows, Broadway, Big Band, Bluegrass, Country, Rock and Roll, and also tunes of faith. The show will begin at noon in the Virginia Ballroom, and will last about 70 minutes. Admission is free, although donations will be accepted. Any proceeds received at the event will be split between
the Show Choir and Abingdon Senior Center, a 501(c)(3)nonprofit serving seniors in Washington County, Va., and the Town of Abingdon. For more information on this
or other programs, call the Center at 276.628.3911. Abingdon Senior Center is located at 300 Senior Drive. The Center is open 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, and late until 9 pm on Thursdays.
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The Blackberries & Star City Revival Thursday, June 12th @ Heartwood
The Blackberries - Photo credit: Deb Wildman The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail presents The Blackberries & Star City Revival in concert on Thursday, June 12th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Heartwood in Abingdon, VA. The concert is part of The
Crooked Road’s Youth Music Series. The Blackberries, a youth bluegrass band based in Floyd, VA, features the talent of siblings Eli and Aila Wildman and the guitar skill of Cord Johnson. Balanced with 6 years of classical
and traditional music training at Floyd Music School, these stellar young musicians are part of the ongoing musical tradition of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Star City Revival is a six-piece bluegrass group affiliated with The Music Lab in Roanoke, VA. The group features five teen pickers and singers, along with their banjo playing coach, John Lawless, and was created by The Music Lab as part of their mission to provide study and performance opportunities for young musicians. The Crooked Road Music Series features youth music performers and showcases venues of the Crooked Road region. These events, along with open jams on the 1st, 3rd, (and 5th) Thursday of every month, are hosted at Heartwood. A complete schedule for the music series is available on The Crooked Road website at www. thecrookedroad.org and at www.heartwoodvirginia.org. The music series is sponsored by The Crooked Road,
Heartwood, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia. Admission to the concert is
free and donations will be accepted for Crooked Road Traditional Music Education Program (TMEP). For more information on The Crooked Road Music Series call (276) 492-2409 or email: info@thecrookedroad.org.
Star City Revival - Photo credit: Tom Landon
Page 10, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
Gareth Asher & The Earthlings The Acoustic Coffeehouse - June 15th
Born in the small town Bowdon, GA, Gareth Asher was raised on a steady diet of old school funk, rock and soul. Asher attributes many of his musical sensibilities to monumental artists like Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and groups like Chicago. As a writer, he respects the work of iconic performing songwriters like Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, and Don Henley and The Eagles. On his third independent release, singer-songwriter Gareth Asher is coming to age as a writer, delivering a well-crafted and emotionally charged body of work. This new album is intensified with bold electric guitars, steady driving percussion, and balanced with lush string arrangements provided by members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Asher recorded the album in home town Atlanta, with close friend and brilliant artist Clay Cook(Marshall Tucker Band, Zac Brown Band) once again producing and mixing. “I feel like my shell is finally cracking, and the best songs are starting to emerge. All my inner most thoughts and emotions are
breaking through to the surface, and insisting on a ray of light to shine down upon them”, says Asher. As a touring artist, Asher has shared the stage with Shawn Mullins, Glen Phillips(o/ Toad the Wet Sprocket), Emerson Hart, Angie Aparo, Corey Smith, Sister Hazel, Collective Soul, 3 Doors Down, Steve Cropper and many more. What people are saying about Gareth: “Gareth has the most soulful
voice I have ever heard. The first time I heard his music I just had to stop and take it in. I imagine that is what it was like for those who heard Ray Charles or John Lennon for the first time.” - Holly Firfer (92.9 Dave FM On-Air, Atlanta & Company) Gareth Asher & The Earthlings will be at Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut Street on Sunday, June 15th. For more information, call 423-434-9872 or visit www. acousticcoffeehouse.net.
Senior Services offering
Senior Crime Prevention Academy at MPCC
Senior Services will offer a Senior Crime Prevention Academy on Thursday, June 12 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The program, planned and organized by the Washington County S.A.L.T. Council, will provide education and awareness about elder abuse from professionals who deal with those issues on a daily basis. The program is free but pre-registration is required. Breakfast and snacks will be provided by the Johnson City Senior Foundation Inc. For more information, please call (423)434-6237.
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This Month at the Farmers Market:
First Produce of the Season! June marks the beginning of fresh summer produce at the market. In addition to scrumptious greens--such as heirloom lettuces, kale, chard, green onions, and spinach---this month you’ll start seeing the first produce of the season. Many growers will have the year’s premier tomatoes, beets, carrots, mushrooms, and more as the summer rolls in. Make sure to try out the deliciously unique oyster mushrooms in your favorite pasta dish; or come taste a rainbow of purple, red, and orange heirloom carrots! (Fun fact: did you know the carrot was not originally orange? That took thousands of years of plant domestication!) And don’t forget: while there is a plethora of appetizing produce to pick-up, there’s plenty of meat, cheese, eggs, spices, herbs, and bread to make your summer flavorful too. Try out a local hamburger, get spicy with some chorizo sausage, throw some fresh chicken on the grill, or amp up your gourmet with ground lamb. Looking for an interesting twist to your morning omelet? Grab some herb-infused goat cheese to add a sensation of flavor! And of course, you’ll need some fresh-baked bread with homemade jam to start any morning off right. Stuck on ideas for how to use all this first-of-season produce? Here are a couple of simple recipes to get you started!
Farmers’ Market Frittata (inspired by John Woodworth)
While omelets take a delicate special touch, and quiches require making a crust, the frittata is perfect in its simplicity. It’s a great way to use your fresh eggs, goat cheese, and summer produce in an easy—but delicious—method. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner! Ingredients: 6 eggs, beaten •2 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (for a spicy omelet try out some cayenne or other pep-
per blend! Our vendors will be glad to help you find a pepper or spice you love)
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon butter 1/2 cup chopped sautéed spinach, kale, or chard • 1/2 cup chopped sautéed green onions Directions: Preheat oven to broil setting. In medium size bowl, using a fork, beat together eggs, pepper, and salt. Heat 12-inch non-stick, ovensafe sauté pan over medium high heat. Add butter to pan and melt. Add onions and greens to pan and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour egg mixture into pan and stir with rubber spatula. Sprinkle in crumbled goat cheese. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the egg mixture has set on the bottom and begins to set up on top. Place pan into oven and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned and fluffy. Remove from pan and cut into 6 servings. Serve immediately. **Add a bit of fresh taste by chopping up some tomatoes and basil to top the frittata with when served.
Roasted Oyster Mushrooms
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds oyster mushrooms, sliced 1/4 inch thick • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth 1/4 cup olive oil • Salt, black pepper to taste • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley and/or dill Directions: Preheat the oven to 425°. Arrange the mushroom slices and minced garlic on a large rimmed baking sheet in a slightly overlapping layer. Dot the mushrooms with the butter and drizzle with the chicken stock and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast the mushrooms in the center of the oven for about 50 minutes, turning occasionally, until the stock has evaporated and the mushrooms are tender and lightly browned in spots. Blot with paper towels and transfer to a plate. Sprinkle the mushrooms with the parsley and/ or dill, and serve with your favorite pasta dish, or as a side at your summer cookout! (recipe inspired by: Siegfried Danler of foodandwine.com)
Page 12, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
Tyler Williams Band June 14th @ The Carter Family Fold
Saturday, June 14th, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Tyler Williams Band. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. Tyler Williams grew up in Ohio and moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, to study bluegrass music. Ashley Davis is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. When the two of them met at the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention in 2007 it wasn’t long before they teamed up to form a band. Tyler is blind and has cerebral palsy, but he has never let that
hold him back. His interest in music began when he was just a year old. His first instrument was a keyboard his grandfather gave him, and he was playing it by age four. At age five, Tyler started taking classical piano lessons by ear. When he was six, his Uncle Derek - a guitar picker - introduced him to bluegrass. Tyler’s uncle took him to his first bluegrass festival. It was there that he met Alison Krauss. His interest in bluegrass kicked into high gear when he was 16. Tyler honed his vocal skills by listening to CDs of his favorite artists. By age 17, he was participating in jams and became part of the
Hocking Valley Bluegrass Boys. When he turned 18, he developed an interest in guitar and mandolin. In 2006, he joined the ETSU Bluegrass program. He graduated in December of 2011. Ashley began reading music when she was young, and her mom gave her piano lessons. After she saw the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, her musical interests shifted to bluegrass. She began attending local jam sessions and sought out musicians who would instruct her in bluegrass style fiddling. By 2005, she was hired to play in Bill Jordan’s band. In 2007, she joined a group called
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Tyler Williams - Continued from previous page the Parsons. Ashley became part of an all-female group Sweet Potato Pie in 2008. She’s now joined Tyler, and they have formed their own group. Watching the two of them perform is spellbinding. Tyler’s vocal range and instrumental talent are nothing short of amazing. Ashley is already one of the best fiddlers around. We can only imagine how their talent will grow in years to come. Joining Tyler and Ashley will be some of the most talented musicians in our region. For some of the best traditional bluegrass the region has to offer, be sure to come out and see the Tyler Williams Band at the Carter Fold. Their show is more than just entertaining – it’s inspirational. There will be lots of fiddle tunes, unbelievable vocals, great instrumentals, and amazing harmony.
For more information on the band, go to http://www.tylerwilliamsband.com/. You’ll also find them on Myspace, Facebook, and YouTube. 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. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.
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Westminster Presbyterian Hosts
Noted Naturalist Marty Silver and “Weird Animals”
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Johnson City will host its annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) program from Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20, with special guest Marty Silver, noted park ranger/ naturalist and popular guest speaker from Warrior’s Path State Park in Kingsport. This year’s VBS theme is “Weird Animals.” On Friday, Silver will bring some of his animal “friends” from the park to Westminster, talking about each one and letting children examine, hold, or watch them. “Our program this year lets children explore fascinating animal life,” says Janet Branstrator, VBS coordinator at Westminster Presbyterian Church. “We’ll look at amazing ways that God has created everything and
how Jesus loves every one of us, no matter how different we may be. “Marty is a kid-favorite speaker, and we’re excited to have him join us.” Children will also enjoy outdoor recreation, music, snacks, science exploration, and teaching sessions. The VBS program will last from 9 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. each day. Children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade are invited to attend all of the VBS activities. For more information or to register, call Westminster Presbyterian Church at (423) 283-4643 or go on-line to www.westminjc. org. The church is located at 2343 Knob Creek Road in Johnson City
Disney Celebrity Jason Dolley at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies As part of their Kids Fin-Tastic Summer, Jason Dolley who plays PJ on Disney’s “Good Luck Charlie” will make an appearance on Saturday, June 14. Time to be determined. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies was voted the number one Aquarium in America by TripAdvisor, and Forbes Magazine named it one of America’s Best Aquariums. The aquarium is best known for its amazing shark exhibit that features 11 foot sharks and one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is located at traffic light number 5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and is open daily. Call 888-2401358 for information, and more celebrity events or see us on the web at www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com
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Page 16, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
Circumpolar Stars are Timeless Guideposts Round and round they go, dayand-night, night-and-day, somewhat neglected today in the 21st Century compared to the thousands of years when these stars guided ships, explorers and nomads alike. Among the circumpolar constellations that never set below the northern horizon are some classic star patterns that even primitive man must have look up upon. There are the Bears, the Dragon, a Giraffe and a Lynx. And joining the party are a King and his Queen, and their potential son-inlaw—a real Greek Hero. I’m talking about the north circumpolar constellations that whirl counter-clockwise around Earth’s axis, pointing to the North Star,
Polaris. They are the unique group of stars that never set as the world turns, and some of the most familiar images when people think of the stars. These ever-present star patterns are the bears Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Draco the Dragon, Camelopardalis the Giraffe, the feline Lynx, King Cephus, Queen Cassiopeia and hero Perseus (who saved their daughter Andromeda). Though not the brightest group of stars in the night sky, the northern circumpolar stars are among the most important to man as timeless guideposts to travelers over land and sea. Knowing the direction of north is one of the essential facts for figuring out one’s location, thus these stars are
among the oldest observed by ancient man. You can look at the stars surrounding the North Pole and think of ancient Viking boats, Egyptian barges and explorers like Columbus and Magellan looking at the very same constellations. The Earth’s 24-hour rotation eastward propels these stars westward and round and round. Today we point to Polaris, and the height above the horizon is the latitude on Earth from which it is observed. The latitude of Johnson City, Tennessee is 36 degrees north, and Polaris is that many degrees above the horizon. But Earth’s axis wobbles like a spinning top that is winding down and makes one complete circle ev-
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June 10, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 17 ery 26,000 years. This “precession of the axis” obviously changes the star the Earth’s pole points to, changing the circumpolar constellations over millennia. When the Egyptians built the Great Pyramid 5,000 years ago, they aligned it to the star Thuban in Draco, which was at the center axis. In 13,000 years, the very bright star Vega in the Milky Way constellation Lyra the Harp will be the Pole Star— and Lyra is not circumpolar for another 10,000 years. Today’s Pole Star Polaris is less than a degree away from the exact point in space where Earth points. In 2095, the precession of our axis will point exactly at Polaris, and it will continue to wobble to other stars. Polaris is the last star in the tail of the Little Bear, Ursa Minor, who hindquarters look like a small ladle or dipper. The Little Dipper is three stars for a handle and four
making a bowl. The seven stars are different magnitudes, so seeing all or some is a test of the clarity of the night sky. There is also a bigger bear, Ursa Major, and it’s rear-end is the celebrated Big Dipper, probably the most recognized star pattern in the sky. In England, these seven stars are called The Plough after the farm implement. It digs up the northern horizon in the autumn and winter, and by spring and summer it dumps the contents over the landscape. Those two outside stars of the Big Dipper bowl point to Polaris, the North Star. Ursa Major is the third largest constellation of the 88 in Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In dark skies you can envision the outline of a prowling bear. The hands of Bootes are nearby and circumpolar, heading the bear. The middle star of the handle is called
Mizar, and if you have excellent eyesight under dark skies you will see another star close to it, Alcor. This “double star” was used by North American Indians to test the eyesight of potential teenage scouts---see Alcor beside Mizar and you’d be trained to scout for animals and the “White Man.” Don’t see the double star Mizar and Alcor and you’d be helping the squaws. At the feet of the Big Bear is Lynx the feline animal. Its stars are faint, and it is a constellation created by the late 17th Century Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius to fill the unnamed region between Ursa Major and Auriga. . The Lynx is chasing the oddly named Giraffe with the leopard spots called Camelopardalis. Created out of faint stars in the 1500s, it was popularized in a book by
Continued on page 21
Page 18, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
Skies This Week Celestial events in the skies for the week of June 10th - June 16th, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
Sat. June 14
As darkness grips the late Spring landscape by 10 pm, Leo the Lion is dipping down toward the western horizon, soon to be gone by midnight. Once heralding the end of our long Winter, the familiar outline of backward question mark for its head and right triangle for its hindquarters is bidding goodbye as Summer is on its way.
Sun. June 15
Looking south, Saturn is in the scales of Libra, an indistinct small group of stars that garners attention with the famous planet’s presence. To the east are the claws of Scorpius, on the border of the Milky Way. Four of the five naked eye planets are in the evening sky. Mercury can be glimpsed for about 30 minutes in the twilight starting around 9 pm, and higher up in the early evening is Jupiter. Red Mars is near white star Spica directly south, and to the east (or left) is the yellowish ringed world Saturn. The Milky Way is on the eastern horizon at 10 pm, and rising to its dominance in the late Summer skies.
Tues. June 10
Venus is in the morning skies, easily mistaken for an airplane light or other objects at 5 am when it is low in the east and rising until the Sun blots it out. The stars of the predawn are those we see in Autumn.
Wed. June 11
The Moon is above the red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. This creature look like a giant fish hook as the tail curls down the horizon.
Thurs. June 12
The Full Moon of June is the Strawberry Moon or Honey Moon, and it happens just after midnight tonight—technically June 13th. The summertime full moons are low in the evening sky and often honey colored as the moonlight is filtered through our atmosphere. This is a possible source for those nuptial times enjoyed by newlyweds on honeymoon!
Fri. June 13
Arcturus is the bright orange star directly overhead at dark, the bottom of Bootes the Herdsman. This constellation looks like a huge kite, or ice cream cone, and is one of the most ancient constellations, dating back to the early Sumerian stargazers 4,000 years ago.
Mon. June 16
On this 1963 date in space history, Valentine Tereshkova, 77, became the first woman to be launched into space aboard her spaceship Vostok 6. She is still the only female to fly solo in space—probably never to be duplicated. Tereshkova is Russian national hero, having been appointed to political posts and most recently part of the torch ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
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Storytelling Live!
Welcomes Willy Claflin The International Storytelling Center’s next teller-in-residence will be fan favorite Willy Claflin, a performer who specializes in humor, folk music, and personal stories. Claflin will perform daily, June 17 – 21, Tuesday through Saturday, with regular matinees at 2:00 p.m. in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. Tickets for all shows are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Reservations are highly recommended. While he is known for his original work, including the unforgettable character Maynard Moose, Claflin has a special fondness for stories that are fading into obscurity. He has almost single-handedly led an effort to honor the work of Gamble Rogers, a storyteller and troubadour who died when he tried to rescue a drowning man in 1991. More recently, Claflin has become obsessed with Norwegian folk tales. “I grew up hearing those from my dad,
and I recently thought, oh gosh, nobody’s telling those,” he says. “They were collected by two guys who essentially did what the Grimm brothers did. There’s a lot of humor there, and a lot of trolls. “The wonderful thing about trolls is that they’re very scary, powerful, and violent, but they’re also really stupid,” he adds. “They can be outwitted very easily, but they can also give you a little shiver.” In addition to folk tales from Norway, Claflin plans to share traditional stories from around the world, including tales from Africa, Pakistan, Scotland, and (more close to home) the American South. An accomplished musician who spent his early career as a folkie, Claflin will accompany himself on guitar for every performance. “I was one of those folk singers who had really long introductions to the songs,” he admits. “The stories behind the songs were always interesting to me.” Some of his favorite songs
are traditional ballads from the British Isles, which he originally learned from his father. During his time in Jonesborough, Claflin will also share a wide range of personal stories, including the one about how he became a professional storyteller in the first place. Long story short: a truck drove through his living room on Christmas morning. While Claflin is used to commanding a large audience, he enjoys the quiet setting of the 100-seat theater where he will perform during his residency. He finds that the town of Jonesborough, too, holds many charms. “I grew up in a tiny town, and so even though I live in San Francisco now, my favorite place to be is any kind of small town,” he says. “The more time I’m in Jonesborough, the closer I get to people there and the more I look forward to coming back. It sounds like a cliché, but it really does feel like a home away from home.” Information about all TIR perform-
ers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2014, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. Season passes that offer savings of 44 percent will be available while supplies last, and ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Olde Courthouse Diner, The Dining Room, Jonesborough
General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
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Stargazer --- continued from page 17 Jakob Bartsch, a son-in-law of the great mathematician-astronomer Johannes Kepler. He might have gotten mixed up about what a camel and giraffe looked like! Next around the circumpolar night are the Queen Cassiopeia and her King Cephus. The six bright stars of Cassiopeia and are nearly as noticeable as the seven Big Dipper stars across the sky. The Queen’s chair is the “W” or “M” shape of the bright stars, dominating the north in the Autumn and Winter. The stars of Cephus aren’t very bright and make a lopsided house, yet the circumpolar constellation is ancient in the civilized world. Cephus was king of Ethiopia, and his wife are parents to a daughter, Andromeda. She’s not circumpolar, but the top torso of her rescuing hero, Perseus, is near mom Cassiopeia. Finally the counter-clockwise motion of the stars brings up Draco the Dragon, a long, winding string of faint stars and eighth largest of
all constellations. The monster’s head is a group of four that lay near the club arm of the pursuing Hercules. Circling the North Pole with indistinct stars, Draco is an ancient constellation that inspired many a mariner’s tale. One of the most popular photos of celestial motion is the long exposure pointed toward Polaris, with all other stars trailing in a circle. Though the illusion is the star patterns are moving, it is really the Earth—a concept that wasn’t accepted until 500 years ago! Stargazing at the circumpolar stars really gives you a sense of the motion of the Earth. It’s easy to see the constellations wheel around in the Winter months when darkness sets in by 6 pm. In the Summer you have to wait until 10 pm for darkness, so you have to stay up late to see the tell-tale motion. The celestial dance is a constant companion to everyone who looks up. Spend some time under the circumpolar wheel of stars—but don’t get dizzy!
Murder Mystery Dinner set for June 13 Citizens are invited to a “whodunit” at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, June 13. This Murder Mystery Dinner presented by Murder Mystery Cara-
van will feature dinner, dessert, and a performance of “Bedlam in Cabin B.” Admission is $10, and pre-registration is required. For more information, please call (423)434-6237.
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Page 22, The Loafer • June 10, 2014
The character of Maleficent first appeared on the big screen in the 1959 animated film “Sleeping Beauty”. Flash forward to 2014 and the character has her own film aptly titled “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie in a re-imagining of the character. While the 1959 effort was the story of Princess Aurora, the new film is the story of the powerful faerie and how she came to be. At the beginning of the film we meet Maleficent as a girl living in a magical area know as The Moors, which is near a human kingdom. Maleficent is the largest of the resident faeries, and watches over her domain with a close eye when she takes flight courtesy of her large eagle-like wings. During this early period she meets the human Stefan, a peasant boy who has wondered into the magical kingdom. The two quickly fall in love, but as time
passes, Stefan becomes power hungry, and desires to succeed the king in the human kingdom. In order to succeed in his efforts and beat others who covet the throne, he must complete a dire task that threatens his relationship with Maleficent. Upon completing the dastardly deed, Maleficent becomes enraged and quickly becomes dark and turns against humankind. Soon, the now villainous faerie learns King Stefan (Sharito Copley) is about to become a father, and after the birth of Princess Aurora, makes a grand entrance at Aurora’s christening, where she promptly casts a spell on the small child, whom she dubs the beastie. The curse, as most of us know, is on Aurora’s 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning needle and fall into a deep sleep only to be awaken by “true love’s kiss”. In an effort to keep Aurora away from
Maleficent’s prying eyes, the king places her in the care of three pixies who will raise the child. Of course, the pixies can’t hide the child from Maleficent, as she keeps in constant watch of Aurora’s growth. Maleficent is aided in her efforts by a raven which she turns into a human (Sam Riley) when need be. Aurora actually meets Maleficent twice in the woods, and upon the second meeting the now older Princess (Elle Fanning) is convinced the mysterious faerie is her Godmother. As Maleficent has watched Aurora grow over the years, she has developed a fondness for the girl, and prior to her
16th birthday attempts to remove the spell she cast years prior. The attempt fails, and when Aurora discovers Maleficent cast the spell on her, she retreats to the father’s castle. Eventually, Maleficent returns to the human castle for a showdown with King Stefan, and the battle will result in life changing experiences for all the main characters. Of course, there is a Prince (Brenton Thwaites) on hand to help bring Aurora back to life. Or does he? I loved the fact this film explores the life of Maleficent, and how the blonde princess changes her life. The whole film rides on the performance of Jolie, and she
succeeds with magnificence. I can’t say enough about her portrayal of the famous character and how she has such a commanding screen presence in the role. The writers provide Jolie with many great lines, but even when she doesn’t speak, her expressions speak volumes. The films twist ending is also a pleasant surprise. I don’t necessarily recommend this film for the very young, due to some scary images, but “Maleficent” is beautifully filmed, and thanks to the performance of Jolie, is a new Disney classic. (Rated PG) A-
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Treat Dad to Heartwood’s
Friday Night Seafood Buffet Heartwood is offering its famous Friday Night Seafood Buffet for the second time this year on Friday, June 13. “We know people love seafood,” said Heartwood Food and Beverage Manager Brooke Webb, “so we’re glad we have the opportunity to offer these special events to give people here in the mountains a taste of the coast.” The popular Friday seafood buffet events are being offered four times in 2014; the other two remaining dates are Sept. 12 and Dec. 5 The seafood buffet menu this Friday includes fried oysters, fried clams, salmon with a corn and black bean salsa, tilapia with a tomato basil salad, fried catfish, peel-and-eat shrimp, tartar and cocktail sauces and hushpuppies. This Friday’s buffet will also include a salad bar, pasta salad,
American Flag Retirement Ceremony Flag Day June 14, 2014
The Abingdon Muster Grounds and the Boy Scouts of America will host an American Flag Retirement Ceremony on Flag Day, June 14, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. On the day that commemorates the adoption of the American Flag by the Second Continental Congress, we will honor our worn flags by properly retiring them. Please bring your worn flags and join us for this memorable tradition. Flags may be dropped off at the Keller Interpretive Center, seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., or may be brought to the ceremony. This event will be conducted around an outdoor campfire at the Abingdon Muster Grounds. Some seating will be available. Feel free to bring a lawn chair. If you would like more information about this topic, please call 276-525-1050 or email lhunter@ abingdon-va.gov
meatloaf, chicken marsala, green beans, mashed potatoes, buttered corn, assorted desserts, cobbler and ice cream. Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located at
Exit 14 in Abingdon, Va., and reservations are strongly suggested for all of Heartwood’s seafood events. To reserve a table or to get more information, call (276) 4922400.
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www.theloaferonline.com the Resurrection Suit, the dead rocker comes back to life—only with a slight side effect of decomposition. All of this wrapped up in a song laden fun spectacle that is a love letter to a type of Hollywood that doesn’t exist anymore. The Ghastly Love of Johnny X is a wild ride, and a fun one too. It’s the type of film that was made just
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X What are the new cult classics? You know what a cult classic is, don’t you? It’s a film that no one at the studio knew how to market, and through of years of word of mouth, spread by fans, has become something of an iconic film. The biggest cult classic of all time being The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a film which is such an icon, that it was added to our National Film Registry, meaning that it will be preserved by the library of congress for as long as we can watch film. We live in an era where Hollywood has zero interest in taking chances. Everything is either a remake or a reboot, or a rebook of a remake, or a remake of a reboot. So with Hollywood not willing to take chances, where will the next crop of films that are bound to be cult icons come from? We have a few, and they all are from the indie outsider directors. The biggest of the past few years has been The Room, a film that...you know what? Google it and thank me later. Some of the new cult films are born out of a love for the early crop of weird 1950s and early 1960s exploitation drive in B movie fare. Larry Blamire’s The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra comes to mind as a new cult classic of that elk. Now we have another film that, in a few years, I fully suspect will be one of the new breed of Cult Classics. The film is a movie that was sent to me, and is a movie that is called The Ghastly Love of Johnny X. Granted, with a title like that alone, my ears were gonna perk up. Right off the bat, Paul Bunnell’s film is not one that is easy to sum up in a quick sentence or two, but I’m gonna try. It’s a black
and white musical about juvenile delinquents from outer space who were sent to Earth as a punishment. Think of it as if someone convinced Rogers and Hammerstein to make a musical for American International Pictures in 1959. You did read correctly that this film was shot in black and white, it was photographed on the last of Kodak’s 35mm fine grain black and white film stock. If anything, it means that Johnny X might be the last film to be truly photographed in real black and white. In addition to this, the film was made in that modern day miracle known as “GashtlyScope,” a fun riff of 20th Century Fox’s “CinemaScope” banner that appeared at the start of so many of their late 50s and early 60s films. These are the details in full: Johnny X and his gang of “Ghastly Ones” have been banned from life on their home planet, and sentenced to be exiled on Planet Earth. It seems that Johnny stole this little thing known as a “Resurrection Suit” from his people, and it’s a suit that can...well...do things. As Johnny X’s main squeeze—a femme fatale named Bliss—wanders away from the group with the suit, things happen. Bliss gets mixed up with a Soda Jerk, and Johnny and his suit crosses paths with a concert promoter. This concert promoter is proud to announce the great return of legendary rocker Mickey O’Flynn, the man with the grin. However, there’s a little problem with the plan for a wildly successful concert with the former rock star. Mickey O’Flynn is suffering from a slight case of death. You can put two and two together, and with
to be purely enjoyed and if you’re game for something entirely different than what’s playing at your local movie house, then this film is most definitely worth a look. It’s available on DVD, and currently streaming on Netflix. Don’t let the fact that this film is in black and white prevent you from watching it. The black and white cinema-
tography is absolutely beautiful, and a reminder of an art from that we may be loosing as everyone switches over to digital. Johnny X might confuse or confound you but on the other hand, you may just find it’s one of the most enjoyably creative films to have come down the pike in a long time. See you next week.
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The Bow Tie Effect I’ve never considered myself to be a very trendy person, and for this reason I generally choose to stay away from things that tend to be momentarily popular. However, I have succumbed to a reasonably hot trend—namely, the resurgence of the bow tie as a fashion accessory—and am exceedingly proud of my newly-acquired ability to tie one of these darned things (no fake-looking pre-tied bow ties for me). Apparently I am very easily amused. Until this Spring, I hadn’t worn a bow tie since I was about four years old, except for the occasional fake ones I’ve had to don for weddings or other special occasions (see the vintage photograph accompanying this column—yes, that’s me “back in the day”). According to a Bloomberg column from last July, we are witnessing a “Bow Tie Renaissance” that has apparently grown even more since the column was written. I am very proud to be one of these Renaissance Men, but I am way outside the age group that has latched on to this rediscovery of a fashion accessory that dates back at least to the seventeenth century. Once “synonymous with conservative, middle-aged college professors,” the bow tie has become the preference of young “geek chick” Millennial men who take their cue from the 1960s, the era of James Bond and Mad Men (especially Bert Cooper, the nowdeparted bow-tie-sporting character played to perfection by veteran actor Robert Morse). For those of you who have an interest in economic statistics, sales of bow ties represented approximately seven percent of the lucrative $850 million American market for neckwear last year, with sales expected to increase this year; unfortunately these statistics are not
generally broken down into the number of “fake” vs. “real” bow ties that are being sold. Since I have purchased only two bow ties since acquiring my rather modest tying talents, I don’t believe I’ve had much impact on this burgeoning market. But I’m sure I will be buying more ties in the very near future as a way of helping support the American economy. In an interesting YouTube video, Bill Nye, the infamous “Science Guy” reveals why he because so enamored with bow ties. He credits his initial interest to his father, who showed him how to tie a bow tie while watching a rerun of “Perry Mason” on TV. Creating a fluffy bow tie from a rather unimpressive piece of cloth also meshed nicely with the knottying skills Nye acquired as a Boy Scout. And, he found that wearing a bow tie when was a waiter in his high school’s annual girls’ athletic banquet not only made him look more professional, but also caused girls to take a second look. And, in a story that confirms perhaps the number one reason most people wear bow ties, he relates how, as a young engineer who was at first required to wear a conventional tie at work, he discovered that a bow tie was
risk management. In what is called “the bow tie effect” or the “bow tie principle,” risk managers ask their clients to imagine the cause and effect sides of risk as the two halves of a bow tie. And I have seen some pretty elaborate charts (that I can’t entirely understand, of course) that resemble bow ties. So I’m sure if you want to go into the field of risk management, you should learn how to tie a bow tie and perhaps even wear one. And speaking of risk management and learning how to tie a bow tie, I came to my eventual understanding of how to accomplish this task after much trial and error, show and tell from three acquaintances, and assistance from countless YouTube videos and online flow charts. While I am still not exactly where I want to be in mastering this art form, I can at least manage to put together something that is presentable enough to wear. And I realize that this will most likely always be a confesses that the consequence work-in-progress. I was rather flabbergasted when of learning how to tie a bow tie is that you never want to go back I discovered somewhere in the to wearing an unimaginative con- neighborhood of 74,700,000 search results for my query “How Do You ventional tie. While doing a little research for Tie A Bow Tie?” Just how many this column, I discovered, much variations can there be? One thing to my surprise, that bow ties pro- I quickly discovered was that vide a popular way of describing nearly all the videos I watched in much more comfortable and out of the way than a tie he had to keep tugged inside his shirt to prevent it from flopping around and getting soaked in his luncheon bowl of soup. The Science Guy concludes, as many no doubt have, that a bow tie provides “the look.” And he
frustration and all the step-by-step flow charts I perused made things look very easy up to the the critical final step in getting the tie to take shape. It was here that the instruction left a lot to be desired. I soon realized that all the watching and studying in the world wouldn’t get me to where I wanted to be. It was only when I turned the videos off and stopped watching friends tie their own ties that I really got the hang of it. And this is where the valuable life lesson comes in. As a teacher I am a devotee of active and collaborative learning. Yes, there is a time and place for explanation and show and tell, but learning doesn’t actually take place until students actively engage in the process. In other words, a bow tie will never get properly tied until the learner becomes a doer rather than a listener or a watcher. And I doubt than anyone has ever learned to tie a bow tie by watching a PowerPoint presentation, listening to a lecture, or taking a standardized test. A bow tie class should be one filled with students actually tying bow ties instead of sitting in rapt attention (i.e. texting or checking Facebook status updates) while someone else explains the process. Explanation is just one half of the bow tie; the other half is active learning and engagement. So, very soon I plan on engaging my students in a little “let’s learn how to tie a bow tie” activity to illustrate the principles of active learning. Should be fun. But first I have to round up the requisite number of bow ties. So, if you have any stray bow ties hiding in a drawer, let me know. See you next week. In the meantime, I will continue my quest for the perfect bow tie (which I suspect is a very elusive goal).
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June 10, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 27
Have an event coming up? Email a press
release and photos to: editorial@ theloaferonline. com
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