The Loafer March 15 by The Loafer

FOOD TRUCK JUNCTION happenings

Volume 30 • Issue #15 Publisher Luci Tate Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle

Food Truck Junction

Wild And Scenic Film Festival

Cover Design Bill May

Civil War Encampment And Drill

ET Bridal Show

Advertising Dave Carter Terry Patterson Lori Howell Beth Jinks-Ashbrook Patti Barr

Metaphor In Motion

Late Night Improv

Caladh Nua at NPAC

Ian Thomas & The Band of Drifters

Acoustic Kids Show at Merefest

Contra Dance In Jonesborough

Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Brian Bishop

columns & reviews 16

Stargazer - Sping Has Sprung!

Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger

Skies This Week

Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369

Batteries Not Included - It’s An Anxiety Riddled World After All

Screen Scenes - Zootopia

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

24 Things To Do 27

Classifieds

8 ‘PUSH’ Physical Theatre

21 Trivial Traveler - Journey to The Center Of The Earth 23

Pets Of The Week

Lock, Stock & Barrel - Single Shot Shotguns

Kelly’s Place - You’re Just My Type

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,

music & fun 14

Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times

Puzzle Page

right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

SOUTHERN SOUND at Silver Spur Saturday, Mar. 19 theloaferonline.com | March 15, 2016 | 3

FOOD TRUCK JUNCTION Saturday, March 19 • 10am-5pm Kingsport Farmers Market W. Center St. at Clinchfield Street Kingsport, TN

This Kingsport edition of the FTJ will be taking place in conjunction with the 2016 Carousel Fine Craft Show & Brass Ring Gala. www.facebook.com/ events/1209794702368532/ The Show will be ticketed but the Food Truck portion will not be. Participating mobile food units are as follows:

B&B Barbeque (Gray, TN)

Backdraft Barbeque (Gate City, VA)

Foodie Fiction (Piney Flats, TN)

Just Write Food Hut Greeneville, TN)

Kettle-licious Kettle Corn (Kingsport,TN)

Li’l Delights Concessions Wholey Smokey Waffles (Johnson City, TN)

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festival

2nd annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival East Tennessee State University will host the second annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Saturday, March 19, from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Martha Street Culp Auditorium in the D.P. Culp University Center. The festival is part of an international tour using film to inspire environmental activism. The short films focus on environmental concerns and celebrate the planet. “Films featured at the ‘Wild and Scenic’ give people a sense of place,” says national tour manager Jenna Brager. “In today’s busy world, it is easy to disconnect from our role in the global ecosystem. When we realize that the change we need in this world begins with us, we start making a difference.” With the support of national partners including Patagonia, CLIF Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Orion Magazine, Klean Kanteen, Earthjustice and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, the festival is building a network of grassroots organizations connected by a common goal of using film to inspire activism. The event at ETSU will offer a variety of films including those that have received national awards, as well as films by local middle school, high school and college students. The theme for the festival is “A Change of Course: Water and the Environment,” and many of the films focus on this vital natural resource. Among the numerous short entries are “Bringing Back the Brooks,” a film about the revival of the brook trout in Southern Appalachian streams, and “Avaatara: The First Route Out,” a documentary about exploring some of the most surreal landscapes still left unexplored in the Baartara Gorge of Lebanon. Another film, “River of Eden,” takes viewers to the Fijian Highlands to discover why locals rejected money from resource extraction and how they turned to tourism to fund a conservation area that protects one of the most beautiful rivers on earth. An Environmental Fair in the auditorium lobby will showcase more than 15 local non-profit or-

ganizations. The fair begins at 5 p.m. and will feature Boone Watershed Partnership Organization as well as many other groups advocating for protection and enjoyment of the environment. No parking permit is required for this free public event. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be given away. For more information, contact ETSU Director of Sustainability Kathleen Moore at 423-439-7766 or moore@etsu.edu or visit www.etsu.edu/sustainability. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.

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event

Civil War Encampment & Drill at Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site

n March 19th, troops of Confederate and Union forces will be preparing for battle on the grounds of Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site. Commanders must discipline their soldiers so they can campaign and win the coming battles. To do so, the troops must learn to pitch tents and form their camps. Camp life teaches discipline. Troops must be drilled so they can learn to maneuver on the battlefield and defeat their enemies. Re-enactors of Confederate and Union brigades will be setting up camp and drilling. Visitors can walk through the camps, ask soldiers questions about the war and their lives on campaign then see the troops drill and learn battlefield formations. Admission to the Site is $ 5.00 for adults and $ 2.50 for children under 12; children under three are free. As always, admission for Tipton-Haynes members is free. The Site will be open from 8am to 4pm. Confederate Senator Landon Carter Haynes will be visiting the greyclad soldiers and welcoming them to his farm to use as a camp and drill field. While usually in residence in Virginia to fulfill his Confederate Senate duties, he has travelled home to encourage the men of the Confederacy. While at Tipton-Haynes, you can tour through the historic house begun as a log cabin in 1784 by Colonel John Tipton. The house was expanded by his son John Tipton, Jr. and then enlarged by Landon Carter Haynes into the fine East Tennessee ante bellum home seen today. As part of your visit, walk among the farm buildings and visit the cave in the woods along Catbird Creek. The creek is lined with sweet maple and hardwood trees. Farm buildings include a two-crib barn, log cabin, smoke house, still house and other

structures necessary to operating a farm on the frontier of Upper East Tennessee. A large picnic area is available and you can browse our gift shop. The troops in camp and drilling are preparing for the battle which will be re-enacted at Tipton-Haynes during the “Springtime in Haynesville” event on May 21st and 22nd. In the afternoons of those days in May, the battle will take place. Watch the charge! Hear the cannon! Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site is located at 2620 South Roan in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information about this event or the Site, call (423) 926-3631, visit us on Facebook or at www.tiptonhaynes. org. Tipton-Haynes is operated by the Tipton-Haynes Historical Association and its local Board of Trustees. The Site is funded in part by the Tennessee Historical Commission, Department of Environment and Conservation, State of Tennessee.

Overmountain Weavers’ Guild Fiber Fair

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Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton will come alive once again on Saturday, March 19, 2016 for its annual Fiber Fair. On that day many of the most talented fiber artists of the region will come together to share their talents and their wares. Weavers will throw their shuttles, spinners will ply their yarns, and botanists will transform tough plant stalks into silky fibers. Visitors will learn how to change a yarn’s color using natural or manufactured dyes. They will also be invited to try their hand at a loom or a spinning wheel! Knitters and crocheters will answer questions and give helpful hints about their craft. In addition, many area vendors will be selling fine handmade items throughout the day. Natural yarns, beautiful jewelry, hand-made scarves, house-wares, mittens, goat milk soap and roving will be for sale. Refreshments are available all day through Powers Coffee – for breakfast, lunch or snacks. For visitors interested in learning to weave, guild members will offer a chance to sign up for a beginning weaving classes during August 2016. The classes will be held each Saturday and Sunday in August at Exchange Place in Kingsport. A sign-up

sheet will be at the OMWG information desk at the Fiber Festival. Fiber Fair is sponsored each year by The Overmountain Weavers’ Guild from Kingsport. The Guild meets monthly at Exchange Place at 1 am the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Admission is free and all are welcome. Come and enjoy a fun and educational day with the entire family. For more information, please contact Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park at 1651 W. Elk Ave.. Elizabethton, TN 37643. 423-543-5808

event

Simple Elegance Eastern Tennessee Bridal Show rides and grooms-to-be and their guests are invited to the Simple Elegance Eastern Tennessee Bridal Show hosted by Simple Elegance Tennessee Photography on March 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. Simple Elegance Eastern Tennessee Bridal Show will connect soon to be married couples, friends and families with highly regarded local wedding professionals who are eager to help make their wedding dreams come true while staying within budget. “We want the bridal show to be informative and fun, so we have activities that couples will find are different from other bridal shows,” said Mathew Wooten, co-owner of Simple Elegance Tennessee Photography. “A few of the Jonesborough venues will also be opening their doors for specialty tours during the event to give folks an idea of what is available for weddings in town.” There will be horse drawn carriage rides, free mini massages and a variety of local caterers and bakeries will have samples of unique and delicious creations. A special addition to the Simple Elegance Eastern Tennessee Bridal Show will include a staged wedding performance called “A Storybook Wedding Comes Alive” at Jonesborough’s Mill Spring Park Gazeebo. “We want people to feel pampered, enjoy themselves and be able to take the time to really get to know the

featured exhibitors and what they have to offer,” said Wooten. The idea of the Bridal Show came about from the need for brides and grooms to be able to finalize plans for their special day all in one place, or to at least gather ideas about how to make their wedding unique and memorable. “Many Tri-Cities preferred wedding vendors will be exhibiting their goods and services including venues, bakeries, caterers, photographers, DJs, florists and more,” Wooten said. Several prizes donated by show exhibitors and local businesses will be awarded to lucky Bridal Show attendees in drawings held throughout the day. One lucky bride-to-be will win a retreat for the bride plus eight friends to The Millstone Special Events and Wedding Venue in Limestone, Tenn. Tickets for the Simple Elegance Eastern Tennessee Bridal Show are $6 at the door or guests can pre-register online at simpleelegancebridalshow. com to save $2 per person and double their chances to win the grand prize. More information about the show, including the latest list of participating vendors, can be found online at simpleelegancebridalshow.com, by searching for #SimpleEleganceBridalShow on social media, or by calling 423-930-8215. theloaferonline.com | March 15, 2016 | 7

theatre

Metaphor in Motion PUSH’s physical ‘storytelling’ defies gravity, classification

In a world becoming more and more sedentary and grounded to its computers, PUSH Physical Theatre is in constant motion – moving minds and spirits, as well their own bodies. “The ability to move people emotionally without the aid of any stage sets – props limited to a simple folding chair, a red rubber ball and some iPads – is truly brilliant,” says Art House Press. Mary B. Martin School of the Arts will present PUSH Physical Theatre – which has been called “a cross between fine art sculpture and the hit movie

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The Matrix” – on Thursday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. in ETSU’s Martha Street Culp Auditorium. Performances by the 2014 Fake Off finalists illustrate the strength of the human soul using the power of the human body, say Darren and Heather Stevenson, who founded the “gravitydefying” group in 2000, to “push” the limits of traditional theater and dance. “There is an enormous difference between simply moving through space (however beautifully) and carving it, creating your environment by pushing the air around you,” says Darren Stevenson. “This leaves lasting imagery that hangs in the air long after you pass through it.” PUSH’s memorable vignettes from real life combine modern technology with physical illusions and dance-infused acrobatics to create poignant theater, or “untheatre” as they call it. “I’ve never seen anything like them,” says Anita DeAngelis, director of event sponsor Mary B. Martin School of the Arts. “It’s something people never forget once they see it. “I’ve seen their piece performed with an iPad twice now and every time I see it, I wonder, ‘How do they do that?’ ” A 2012 grant from the Farash Foundation enabled collaboration with the National Institute for the Deaf, during which PUSH created “Red Ball,” that incorporates iPads to study the interplay between real and virtual worlds. Yet most of the troupe’s motional and emotional metaphors

are based on their own experiences, hopes and fears, rather than technological illusion, Stevenson says. Their “Parenthood” and “The Soldier” pieces sprang from the Stevensons’ sleepless nights with their new little ones and then-older son in the military. “When I perform [‘The Soldier’] which is about a young man leaving, saying goodbye to his family and leaving to go the military, it’s not just an aesthetic piece,” Stevenson says. “It’s not just a little bit of art. It is my story and his story and it’s real for me and in that moment when I perform it. “I’m not acting. I’m not pretending. I’m actually living a real thing and that’s the same for most of our work. There are these elements of deep truth because we’re normal people just like everybody else.” From more somber missed connections in relationships and Job’s historic struggles to the wonders of Galileo’s discoveries of the universe and a tongue-in-cheek history of hu-

man flight, PUSH’s collaborative boundless imaginations take audiences “from hilarity to awe,” says the Rochester City Newspaper with “spot-on

humor … imbued with philosophical depth.” The emotional depth is only matched by the group’s physical prowess and acrobatic high

jinks. “You guys are superhuman!” said Fake Off judge and Glee star Harry Shum Jr. to the TruTV show finalists. The “PUSHers” train at least five hours a day and will rehearse a stunt 40 or 50 times until “it’s a all in a day’s work by the time we perform it for you,” Stevenson says. This discipline and a shared vision brought Darren and Heather Stevenson together. They met while studying at The Center in St. Louis. They toured the U.S. and England and continued studying with Several Dancers Core in Atlanta; Pilobolus collaborator Bill Wade in Cleveland; and The Goldston & Johnson School for Mimes at Kenyon College. Then the Stevensons founded the Studio School of the Arts in Atlanta before relocating to Rochester, N.Y., where PUSH Physical Theatre was born in 2000. The company has since toured nationally and internationally and has an in-depth educational outreach with PUSH Pins Camp for young people in Rochester, and workshops and residencies with grade and middle schools, teens and adults. Other members of the company are Avi Pryntz-Nadworny, a trained actor, juggler and gymnast who has performed with Cirque du Soleil; Jonathan Lowery, trained as a mime and actor and international touring professional; and Katherine Marino, a former Fulbright Scholar, who has performed with numerous dance companies in the U.S. and Argentina. Risk and failure are very much part of the fabric of the PUSHers’ daily routine as artists. “When we’re creating new work I say, ‘Look, I want 90 percent of everything you try to fail and if it doesn’t it means you’re not risking enough,’ ” Stevenson says. “We’re looking for that 10 percent that does work that is usually really unique to you and can be quite magical.” The PUSH magic not only defies gravity, but it also defies definition. “If you ask us what ‘physical theater’ means to us, we’ll tell you something like, ‘It’s storytelling using only our bodies,’

” he says. “The beauty of movement is that we can define it without words.” Music accompanies most pieces and Stevenson’s anecdotes and insights chip “away at that limiting wall between performers and their audience,” one reviewer says. With or without words, the goal of PUSH’s physical artwork is to be clearly understood and deeply shared. “We strive to maintain an element of storytelling and emotional connection that keeps your eyes and your mind glued to the stage for the entire show. Art is a two-part experience and what we do on stage is never complete until it grabs your imagination and draws you into your own story. The overriding goal of any work PUSH produces is to create work that makes sense to the audience.” That conversation with the audience during a performance is the ultimate mission of PUSH, Stevenson says. “For me to be an artist, I don’t need an audience,” he says. “I can dance around in my living room. The purpose for us being on the stage and for people to come is so that we can have something that feels more like a conversation, and we hope people will engage in that conversation and take it beyond the theater. “But on top of that there’s this other level that it’s just fun it’s really fun coming in and watching people that can do remarkable things with their body. It’s funny and it’s deep and it’s soulsearching and it’s almost entirely unique and I would hope that audiences come if for that reason alone.” For more on PUSH, visit www.pushtheatre.org. Tickets for PUSH Physical Theatre at ETSU are $5 for students of all ages with ID, $20 for seniors 60+ and $25 for general admission. To purchase tickets online or for more information about the event or Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, please visit www. etsu.edu/martin or call 423-439-TKTS (8587).

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theatre he Barter Players Encore Company is set to host Late Night Improv performances with a “Saturday Night Live” sense of humor at Barter Theatre Stage II on March 18-19 at 11:00 PM. For one weekend only, audiences will have the chance to find out what happens when actors perform without a script. Improv, or improvisational theatre, is a style of performance that does not employ a script or other written plan for the show. During improv shows, most of

BARTER BRINGS BACK LATE NIGHT IMPROV PERFORMANCES the material audiences see is made up on the spot. This means no two shows will ever be the same. The Barter Players Encore Company will also include some sketch comedy in their performances. These parts of the performance are designed to be similar to the popular television show “Saturday Night Live.” Tickets for Late Night Improv can be purchased for $10 through the Barter Theatre box office, but are recommended for adults only. Last spring, The Barter Players Encore Company gave six Late Night Improv performances to sold-out crowds. Terrance Jackson, who appeared in last year’s performances, said, “I’m really looking forward to doing the improv shows again because you never know

Natalie Riegel and Terrance Jackson act out a tense moment while Julie Scroll, Sam McCalla and Sean Michael Flattery look on.

what is going to happen, but it will be fun and that’s guaranteed. I hope people come ready to laugh.” Natalie Riegel, who is also a returning member of The Barter Players Encore Company, said, “Last year improv brought out a whole new crop of people to Barter and they were there to have a great time. Our goal is to go out on stage, take some risks, and have a good time. It’s thrilling!” The Barter Players Encore Company includes: Sean Michael Flattery, Terrance Jackson, Sam McCalla, Natalie Riegel, Julie Scroll and Kelly Strand. For tickets to an improv event visit www.bartertheatre.com or call the box office at 276-628-3991

Country Breakfast

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Please join us and come hungry to Fairview United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 19th (3rd Saturday 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.

music

Irish Band Caladh Nua

March 17 at NPAC

reland offers up its finest in traditional music and song when Caladh Nua takes the stage on St. Patrick’s Day at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center at 7:00 pm. Caladh Nua (pronounced Coll-ah Noo-ah, meaning ‘new harbor’) is a tightly knit, vibrant and talented young band with origins deeply rooted in the southeastern counties of Ireland. With spellbinding virtuosity, Caladh Nua respectfully delivers the music of their heritage and carries it forward seamlessly into the future. The bands five versatile musicians and singers, play instruments ranging from banjo to fiddle, guitar to bodhran, and tin whistle to button accordion. Their style has been described by Irish Music Magazine as “solid traditional music with plenty of flair and lots of musical imagination.” Through a series of international tours and festivals across the globe, Caladh Nua has cast a uniquely captivating net of Irish music and song over an ever-widening worldwide audience. Experience the song and sound of Caladh Nua at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Thursday, March 17 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $25 for orchestra level seating, $20 for mezzanine seating and $15 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreen-

eville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. 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, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.

Gray Book Club The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Do you like to read? Do you like to talk about books? Then come to our book club meeting at the Gray Library on Thursday afternoon, March 24, at 2:00 p.m. The book for discussion this month is the Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins. The “girl on the train” is Rachel, who commutes into London and back each day, rolling past the backyard of a happy-looking couple she names Jess and Jason. Then one day Rachel sees “Jess” kissing another man. The day after that, Jess goes missing. The story is told from three character’s not-to-be-trusted perspectives: Rachel, who mourns the loss of her former life with the help of canned gin and tonics; Megan (aka Jess); and Anna, Rachel’s ex-husband’s wife, who happens to be Jess/ Megan’s neighbor. Rachel’s voyeuristic yearning for the seemingly idyllic life of Jess and Jason lures her closer and closer to the investigation

into Jess/Megan’s disappearance, and closer to a deeper understanding of who she really is. And who she isn’t. This is a book to be devoured. -Neal Thompson Refreshments will be provided. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Gray Library at 4771550. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County –Jonesborough/Gray Libraries

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music

Ian Thomas & The Band of Drifters Ian Thomas and his Band of Drifters are based out of Knoxville, TN. After traveling for years as a street performer, Ian Thomas began performing indoors in New York City, where he recorded his debut album “A Young Man’s Blues” and his follow-up “Live at Rockwood Music Hall.” Since then, he has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Cyril Neville, Corey Harris, Sam Bush, Shovels & Rope, The Wood Brothers, The Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Reverend Goat and Dr. John and has performed at festivals, including Bonnaroo, Pickathon, Red Ants Pants and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. Performing both solo and with a band, Thomas draws on a variety of American roots influences, delivering a

Irish band SIGEAN at Next Door

captivating raw live performance and distinctive sound from his original compositions on guitar, harmonica and kazoo. His latest release is the full-band album “Live at the Preservation Pub,” recorded in KnoxSigean, the Irish Traditional band of the Triville. Photo by: Bill Foster Cities TN/VA Region is announcing a show at

Ian Thomas & The Band of Drifters with Jon Chambers Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St, Johnson City, TN 37604 Saturday March 19, 8:00PM www.thewillowtreejc.com

the Next Door , which is located at 415 W. Walnut Street in Johnson City, Tennessee Sigean will perform a program of traditional Irish music at Next Door on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 8:00 PM. Admission will be $5 at the door. Next Door is a fantastic music listening room that is located adjacent to the Acoustic Coffeehouse. This concert will be open to all ages. Sigean was formed in February of 1997 in Bristol, Tennessee to perform very traditional Irish and Scottish music and has been active since that date. Sigean is just beginning it’s 20th year as a performing band. Sigean has performed at virtually all of the music festivals in the Region, including the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival, the East Tennes-

see Celtic Festival, The Knoxville Irish Festival, the Virginia Highlands Festival, and many others. Additionally, the band has performed on WETS-FM public radio program, “Studio One”, many private events such as the 100th Anniversary Event for the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Media General’s annual board meeting. The band has also performed at many of the local pubs and restaurants, such as the Sleepy Owl Brewery, Boyd’s Jig and Reel in Knoxville, Tennessee and many more. Sigean is comprised of very experienced musicians. Tom Swadley on guitar and bouzouki, Frank Wing on tenor banjo, 5 string banjo and fiddle. John Rushing on upright bass and vocals, Marcianne O’Day on fiddle and vocals, Buz Lee on bodhran and vocals, and Reagan DeBusk on Irish wooden flute and whistles. The band’s webpage is www.sigeanmusic. com where all events and information regarding the band can be found.

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music MerleFest 2016 continues popular Acoustic Kids Showcases

MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 28-May 1, 2016, is pleased to announce the return of the Acoustic Kids Showcases to the 2016 festival. Young pickers and singers are encouraged to apply before the March 21 deadline in order to perform during the showcases. The Acoustic Kids Showcases allow the next generation of pickers and singers and other traditional-style performers to highlight their talents for music fans at the four-day festival. These showcases, which played to standing-room-only crowds in 2015, reflect an elevation and encouragement of talented young performers that have been part of the festival from its early days. Hosted by performer and beloved MerleFest veteran Andy May, these showcases will provide an opportunity for young performers through age 16 to perform in a supportive environment. Participants selected will be notified by April 11. Selection is not based on how advanced a child’s performance might be, but rather it is based on a child’s confidence in performing at his or her level. In fact, beginners are encouraged to apply. Additional instructions and details about the Acoustic Kids Showcases, may be found at http://andymay.com/acoustickids/application-instructions/. You may apply online or download a printable application at http://andymay.com/acoustickids-application-merlefest/. The Acoustic Kids Showcases are held on Friday and Saturday on the Austin Stage, Dance Stage and Mayes Pit. (Program pocket schedule has specific times.) Additionally, from among this year’s pool of applicants, several performers will be chosen for a special “Acoustic Kids Ambassadors” performance hosted by Andy May on the Cabin Stage Saturday evening. Andy May is well known to MerleFest fans as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, mandolinist, producer, educator and visual artist. His Acoustic Kids Showcases have given many hundreds of young

Acoustic Kids Showcase veterans, Silly Gals (Emmaly and Christina Saliga, backed up by their dad, Mark) of Pendleton, Ky., performing in the 2015 Saturday morning showcase. The Saligas have been a part of Acoustic Kids Showcases at MerleFest since 2011. Now that Emmaly has aged out of the Acoustic Kids Showcases, she will join her dad as an accompanist to Christina Saliga.

performers supportive performance opportunities for over 25 years. The current MerleFest 2016 lineup and stage schedules are available online at MerleFest.org/lineup. Tickets for MerleFest 2016 may be purchased at MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An Early Bird discount is available through April 27, 2016.

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S O LG T P

T I

- TUESDAY - Mar. 15th -

- FRIDAY - Mar. 18th -

JEFF POWERS (Americana) at Acoustic Coffeehouse

ASYLUM SUITE at 50/Fifty Sports Tavern SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND

at Jiggy Ray’s 6:30pm

CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING

DOWNTOWN COUNTRY - WEDNESDAY - Mar. 16th -

OPEN MIC at Jiggy Ray’s OPEN MIC

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 6pm

OPEN JAM at O’Mainnin’s Pub K’S CHOICE at Capone’s QUILES AND CLOUD at Down Home ZACH DOIRON (Folk) SAMUEL BARKER (Folk, Folk Rock, Alt.

Country) at Acoustic Coffeehouse

- THURSDAY - Mar. 17th -

ACOUSTIC NIGHT at Capone’s MARK LARKINS

(Country) at The Outdoorsman

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm

PLAN Z at O’Mainnin’s Pub PHOENIX at The Family Barn LAWSON GARRETT & THE LOVE / STERLING SPRINGS at Acoustic Coffeehouse

- SATURDAY - Mar. 19th -

BENNY JONES at The Family Barn CALAMITY JONES BAND (formerly Jones Boys) at Holston River Brewing Company 9pm

THE STEP COUSINS at Jiggy Ray’s 7pm HB BEVERLY w/ BROKE BUSTED at Just One More Bar & Grill 2pm

at Applebee’s (Greenville) 7:30pm

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

at Bone Fire Smokehouse

IAN THOMAS & THE BAND OF DRIFTERS w/ JON CHAMBERS

(formerly Jones Boys) at Quaker Steak & Lube

SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND

at O’Mainnin’s Pub 8pm

GRANT MEREDITH at 50Fifty Sports Tavern LOVE, LIES & LYRICS at Lee Theatre SHOOTER (Country, Classic Rock, Oldies)

HE IS LEGEND at The Hideaway THE FARMHOUSE GHOST CALAMITY JONES BAND

WYLDEHEART at 50Fifty Sports Tavern SPANK at Holston River Brewing Company 9pm THE ROYAL HOUNDS LAURA THURSTON (Folk)

at Acoustic Coffeehouse

- FRIDAY - Mar. 18th -

CYPTOIDS, HAAL, & SPACE JUNK at Capone’s

DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE (Rock, Americana) at Down Home

SHOOTER (Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) at Elizabethton Moose Lodge 9pm

JANGLING SPARROWS at Bone Fire Smokehouse

NIGHTSHIFT (Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) at Washington Co. Moose Lodge 8:30pm

JUST B’CUZ at Jiggy Ray’s 7pm OPPOSITE BOX at Sleepy Owl Brewery 9pm SOUTHERN BREEZE at Holston River Brewing Company 9pm

MOONLIGHT RUN at Country Club Bar & Grill

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at Capone’s 10:30pm

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm (Country) at JC Moose Lodge

at Bristol Slater Center 7pm

MOTEL RODEO at Down Home BELOW 7 at The Hyperion 3 MILE SMILE at Yee Haw Brewing Company

TROUBLESOME HOLLOW at Carter Fold

COAL CREEK w/ SOUTHERN SOUND at Silver Spur 8pm THE FARMHOUSE GHOST at Sleepy Owl Brewery 8pm

WYLDEHEART at O’Mainnin’s Pub HAYDEN GARBER at Bone Fire Smokehouse

DOUBLESHOTT

at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 9pm

ROAD TRIPP

at Country Club Bar & Grill

CARRIE MORRISON / SIGEAN at Acoustic Coffeehouse

If you or your band are playing in the upcoming week and would like to be in The Spotlight, call in advance to (423) 282-1907 or go online to: theloaferonline.com. Due to last minute cancellations or changes, please call the location to confirm.

- SUNDAY - Mar. 20th -

OPEN JAM at The Family Barn 1pm LIVE MUSIC at Bone Fire Smokehouse OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse - MONDAY - Mar. 21st -

CAROLINA EXPRESS at Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch

OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse BLUEGRASS JAM at Hardee’s (Boones Creek)

KARAOKE TUESDAY Karaoke at 50Fifty Sports Tavern Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke at Holiday Inn - Johnson City Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Everette’s Bar & Grille - Johnson City *********************** FRIDAY Karaoke at Bristol VFW - Bristol TN 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 - Johnson City TN Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City *********************** SATURDAY Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** SUNDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - Johnson City TN

Spotlight Directory 50 Fifty Sports Tavern 2102 N. Roan Street Johnson City Abingdon Moose Lodge 15605 Porterfield Hwy Abgindon VA 276/628-2756 Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 Applebee’s 2771 E Andrew Johnson Hwy Greeneville 423/ 636-1483 Biggies Clam Bar 417 W Stone Dr Kingsport 423/765-9633 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 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 Elizabethton Moose Lodge 288 Lovers Lane Elizabethton 423/542-5454 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 Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN The Hyperion 1759 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy Greenville 423/ 638-4143 Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton 423/ 518-1500 Johnson City Moose Lodge 1801 W. Lakeview Dr. Johnson City 423/926-6400 Just One More Bar AJ Hwy Mosheim Lee Theatre 41676 W Morgan St. Pennington Gap, VA 276/ 546-4000 O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423/844-0049 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St Bristol VA 276/644-9647 Slater Center 325 McDowell St. Bristol Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423/390-8476 Washington County Moose 15605 Porterfield Hwy Abgindon VA 276/628-2756 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

BREAKFAST CLUB @ CAPONE’S

After a six-month hiatus from the region, The Breakfast Club will be returning to Capone’s in Johnson City on Saturday, March 19. The band’s annual winter season show has historically been the most attended. Following weeks of bad weather, cold mornings, frosted windshields, and runny noses, fans are more than ready to escape with The Breafast Club for a few hours. Admission to the show is $10, with music starting around 10:30 p,m. With thousands of local fans, each Breakfast Club show is a must-see sing-along extraveganza. For over two hours, The Breakfast Club precisely recreates the most popular songs from the 1980s. To see and hear the band, fans can visit www.thebreakfastclub.com.

theloaferonline.com | March 15, 2016 | 15

astronomy

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

verybody says they have a favorite season. But who doesn’t like putting 13 weeks of uncertain cold, wind, snow and sleet behind them? That’s what we do this week on Earth as our solar race track brings us around the corner where your Northern Hemisphere starts tipping toward the Sun’s warmth. As we travel 30,000 mph around the Sun on our 800-million-milelong orbital “racetrack,” we reach key points where climate begins to change. That’s because of the 23.5-degree tilt that Earth has from spinning straight up and down. It’s all about the tilt. Not distance. In fact, Earth is closest to the Sun in mid-January, and farthest in July. Our ellipse around the Sun varies from 91 to 95 million miles. If Earth was not tilted slightly over on its side, weather patterns would be quite different, with little change at your location. It would always be cold in Wisconsin and hot in Florida. And always lots hotter the closer to the equator. And colder as you go north. Of course, the Southern Hemisphere would be a mirror of the North in climate zones that would hardly change no matter when the Sun was located in its orbit. This is the case for planets Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune, all rotating on their nearly straight up-and-down axis. Only Earth, Mars and Uranus are tilted. The reason? We all were probably whacked by a small planet or moon whizzing around the early Solar System. Mars and Earth are nearly identically tilted from the vertical—the Red Planet is 25.2 degrees. Uranus really got smashed by something, being knocked over nearly 90 degrees so it rolls on its side along its orbit. What the tilt for Mars and Earth does is change the slope of sunlight as the rays strike the surface. As we tilt forward, sunlight is more direct and hotter than when we are tilted away and the rays are indirect. Of course the farther from the Sun you are the slower you travel in your orbit. For Earth this is a 365-day cycle at an average 93 million miles from the Sun, and 687 days for the Martian year at 142 million miles. You’ll get it when you think about this: you don’t get a suntan at 9 am—you wait until after 11 am to lather up with lotion. When the Sun is higher up, that’s tanning time. Until around 3-4 pm when the Sun is not as hot. And why is it not as hot at 9 am or 5 pm? Because the sunrays are indirect—from an angle and not as hot. Those photons of light are hottest when beating down directly from on high. Get it? This is where the equinoxes and solstices come into the picture. Briefly, equinox means in Latin “equal time” as in equal hours of day and night. That’s what’s happening March 20th—the Spring Equinox. Earth reaches a point in its orbit where our tilt is at a right angle toward the Sun. It happens again around Sept. 21st—the Autumnal Equinox. And the Solstices. That is when the position of the Earth along its “racetrack” orbit puts our axis tilted directly toward or away from the Sun. When tilted toward the Sun it is the Summer Solstice occurring

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around June 21st. Solar rays are hot because they are direct. Around Dec. 21st just the opposite, the axis is tilted away from the Sun and the indirect sunlight is much cooler. Remember, Down Under, just the opposite is true. In July the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing Winter because it is tilted away from the Sun. Summertime for Australia, South America and Africa is from December to March. The movement of planets around stars is called “celestial mechanics,” and the exact science was a big mystery until some giant intellects like Kepler, Newton, Copernicus and Galileo figured it out. But that was just over 500 years ago. Before that, there were all kinds of theories—many pretty bizarre—that tried to account for the motions we witness every day and night in the sky. Looking up, have you really thought about what is going on? Sure, you see the Sun rise in the east and set in the west. But to understand what causes this simple celestial motion has been a mystery for thousands of years. The Sun’s motion goes from a short arc above the South horizon in the Winter to a longer swath of sky that peaks high overhead in the Summer. That causes sunrays to be less direct in the Winter and more direct and Summer. And of course the stars follow the daily east to west motion of the Sun, but change with the seasons as they parade, also east to west. But the Moon moves “upstream” toward the east about an extended hand-span every day, changing its shape from crescent to a full circle and back to crescent before disappearing for a few days near the Sun. This celestial motion was extremely puzzling to ancient stargazers, even to the most educated people of antiquity. Even today, our modern minds have a hard time wrapping their heads around the daily motions overhead. The ancient Hindus thought the land was supported by four elephants turning the flat Earth as they walked; Egyptians had unseen chariots pulling the Sun, Moon and stars across the sky; most had

the Earth at the center of everything; some had elaborate crystal spheres with the fixed stars that the Sun and Moon moved in front and behind. And then throw in the five wandering stars we know as our naked eye planets—and boy was everyone confused! That’s because when you trying to explain our daily celestial motions using logic, what we are actually seeing is an amazing and grand illusion. It was 500 years ago when Galileo was trying to explain the Polish astronomer Copernicus’ proof that the Earth was just a planet like the five others orbiting the Sun, an ordinary star like the thousands we see in the night sky. Galileo’s correct beliefs went against 2,000 years of religious dogma, and landed the famous Italian scientist in house arrest the last decade of his life. The powerful Catholic Pope Urban VIII didn’t like Galileo turning upside down 20 Centuries of celestial mysticism with scientific fact! It’s all documented in the Inquisition of Galileo and many interesting books about this giant leap for all mankind. Yes, there is a lot of history and tremendous drama in the real reason the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. One of the recent bestseller books about this fascinating story is “Galileo’s Daughter,” nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2000, by Dava Sobel. It centers on the surviving letters of his daughter, Maria Celeste, a nun in a convent, to her father under house arrest in the 1620s. If you want a great, easy to understand story of science, faith and love, put Sobel’s book on your Summer beach reading list. And let those direct rays burn your buns!

pring has sprung! The 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth causes the Sun’s arc across the sky to move from north to south, then south to north in our skies. The Sun is headed northward to its farthest point north on June 21, the Summer Solstice. The Vernal Equinox used to occur on March 20th or 21st. The celestial nuances of our solar orbit will move the date to just March 20th until 2044. Some years after that the first day of Spring will sometimes fall on March 19th. Tues. March 15 The Moon is at First Quarter today, majestic directly south after sunset and setting around 2 am. With sunset just before 7:30 pm, darkness won’t happen until an hour later after 8:30 pm—and that’s Daylight Savings Time! Gardeners, golfer and outdoor athletes rejoice! Happy 84th birthday to the fourth man on the Moon, Alan Bean. He’s been a fantastic artist painting about his Apollo moon adventures. Wed. March 16 On this 1926 date in space history, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid fueled rocket from his aunt’s backyard in Massachusetts. After a few years of research, he found a lack of interest and funding for his rockets. The German Nazi regime took his plans and made their own V-2 rockets in World War II that bombed Europe and Britain. Thurs. March 17 St. Patrick’s Day…which has nothing to do with astronomy. But on this 2011 date in space history, NASA’s Messenger spacecraft began orbiting Mercury. After the successful four year mission, the spacecraft was intentionally crashed into the first planet for one last scientific experiment—detecting ice at the sun-hidden poles. Celestial events in the skies for the week of Mar. 15th - Mar. 21st as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

Fri. March 18 On this 1965 date in space history, Alexei Leonov, 81, took the world’s first spacewalk spending about 15 minutes outside the Voskhod 2 spaceship. Watching inside the spaceship was cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev. Leonov also commanded the Soviet spaceship that docked with an Apollo manned spacecraft in 1975, and is a Russian national hero.

Sat., March 19 The bright moonlight in the east still doesn’t wash out the bright winter stars of Orion, his dogs Canis Major and Minor, Taurus and Gemini, all setting in the west. Sun., March 20 Vernal Equinox is today as the Sun enters Aries the Ram at 12:30 am Eastern Standard Time. The long, hard winter is over! Seen from the equator, the Sun is directly overhead at noon, and around the world there are an equal 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. Mon., March 21 If you’ve been noticing a bright yellow star in the east after sunset, it’s the planet Jupiter. Big in any size telescope, the fourth brightest thing in the sky is fascinating to watch. You can see its four bright moons circle the big, squashed globe with dark bands and polar caps. Check out old Jove!

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opinion

It’s An Anxiety Riddled World After All! You may have heard recent news that a certain “magical kingdom,” a certain “happiest place on earth” is coming out with a new section of their famed themed park. Oh, you know darn well what the new section is. A new land based on that place from “a long time ago” that one. The one with the ships and the “galaxy far far away.” Yes. The rumors are true, I’m collaborating with imagineers for “Andy Ross’s Anxiety Land” theme park! Anxiety Land is the type of theme park I’ve always been thinking about, because I can’t think about anything else. Taking the overactive brain traffic of day to day life, and turning them into fun family thrill rides has been quite an adventure— three years in the making! It’s more than just rides, there’s exhibits in fancy pavilions too! My favorite is the one that sure to be popular with every-

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one, “Things You Said In High School That Still Haunt You.” Get there early to avoid crowds! I know what you’re thinking: “Andy, what kind of self respecting theme park is this? Where are the rides, man!?” Fear not, we have rides at Anxiety Land! We have a thrill ride of a rollercoaster called “Online Dating.” Our roller coaster has a different experience each time you ride, randomly chosen by the mood of the day. This factor causes the custom in-ride soundtrack to be either moody Adele songs, or gonna-get-it-on Marvin Gaye tunes! It’s going to be a roller coaster you’ll tell your friends about. One of my favorite rides is our life sized board game adventure “Crowded Shopping Mall.” You’ll start in the food court, roll the giant novelty dice and see if you’re the first to

make it all the way to the exit in the Belk’s! Avoid traps such as the public bathroom, where you’ll hide out for a turn. Be careful to not engage with a kiosk shop owner, that will send you back to start. We’re really proud of this attraction, and I can’t wait for the spin off game from Parker Brothers! I hope the ride we’ll be most known for, is our innovative choose your own adventure styled “Extended Family Dinner.” In this attraction, styled as an interactive video game, you’ll ride along in your buggy with a laser cannon you can use to shoot down topics you’re trying to avoid talking about. You only have split seconds to knock away “family member who supports Donald Trump” or “Evasive questions about your love life.” Failure to do so, will cause a most awkward meal indeed. Naturally, all theme parks need that one ride that gives you a true jolt, and ours is one that might be the most terrifying ride ever devised. “Crowded Elevator” is a ride in which you must endure 20 minutes of an elevator that slowly gets filled with more and more people. Will all the weight cause the elevator to suddenly stop? Will there be a power outage? Will someone break wind and blame it on you? What’s that smell? It’s all there in “Crowded Elevator.” We warn you though, this ride is not for the weak of heart. More is sure to be announced as the plans are still being finalized for Anxiety Land. We’ve not picked all the food vendors yet, but trust me, there will be plenty of options for food. We’re also thinking of putting in a “zen booth” which allows you to clear your mind from all the anxious thoughts for a few moments. Ground breaking is expected to begin in late Summer with an opening targeted for Fall 2017. Hope to see you there! “Andy Ross’s Anxiety World” is sure to become the most popular theme park the world has ever seen…and may cause sales of Xanax to go up tremendously.

In Theaters Now

reviews

“ZOOTOPIA”

he latest 3D animated film to hit the big screen, “Zootopia”, will no doubt be added to the list of classic Disney films. The film is described as a buddy comedy-drama-adventure, and the description is accurate. The film is set in a world populated by anthropomorphic mammals, and is a tale of the unlikely friendship between a rabbit named Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and a red fox named Nicholas Wilde (Jason Bateman). You see, in this world, predators and prey are not enemies, and work and live together in the city of Zootopia. The story begins when Judy is still living with her parents in the farm lands of rabbits, but has big dreams of becoming the first rabbit police officer in the nearby city of Zootopia. While Judy’s parents are appalled with her dream, she eventually attends a police academy, where she graduates as class valedictorian, but is assigned parking duty because she is much smaller than the other officers, who are everything from tigers to

elephants. One day while Judy is writing parking tickets, she runs across Nick Wilde, a con artist fox, who she discovers later has pulled a con on her. After her discovery of Nick’s real “occupation”, she arrests a thief, but nearly loses her job in the process. The person who keeps her from being fired is the city’s Assistant Mayor, who later has her own run in with Judy. The other saving grace which will allow Judy to keep her job, is to help locate the missing husband of otter Mrs. Otterton. However, she only has 48 hours to do so. Judy manages to con Nick into helping her, and soon the two are a pair to be reckoned with. The duo also uncover a conspiracy involving outbreaks of some predators of the city becoming savage. In the end, our little rabbit cop proves she can stand up to all the big boys, both good and bad. I really enjoyed how the story depicts a strong female character, even if she is a rabbit. The interactions between Judy and Nick are clever, and witty dialogue is prevalent throughout the film. The films graphic design is a sight to behold, and is wonderful in the 3D format. For a film that is so colorful and delightful, the subjects of stereotypes and prejudice are tackled head on. “Zootopia”, Disney’s 55th animated feature film, is a film that will leave you smiling as you leave the theater, and in these days of tension filled political debates and name calling politicians, that makes for a refreshing reprieve. (Rated PG) A-

IN THEATRES NOW Box Office Top 10

Zootopia (2016) London Has Fallen (2016) Deadpool (2016) Whiskey Tang Foxtrot (2016) Gods of Egypt (2016)) Risen (2016) Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) The Revenant (2015) Eddie the Eagle (2016) The Witch (2015) IMDb.com (03/12/2016)

The Arts Array presents

The Danish Girl

The Arts Array Film Series presented by Virginia Highlands Community College is in its 45th year. All films are presented at the Abingdon Cinemall on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and again at 7:30 pm. The Danish Girl (March 21 and 22) Danish artist, Gerda Wegener, painted her own husband, Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne), as a lady. When the painting gained popularity, Einar started to change his appearance into that of a female and named himself Lili Elbe. With his feminist passion and Gerda’s support, Einar attempted the first male-to-female sex reassignment surgery, a decision that turned into a massive change for their marriage, as Gerda realized her own husband was no longer a man or the person she married. The Arts Array Film Series is part of the comprehensive

cultural outreach program of Virginia Highlands Community College. The series is cosponsored by the Abingdon Cinemall, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Emory& Henry College, and King University. Admission to the films is free for the faculties and students at the supporting institutions. Members of the general community may attend for $7.75. For a brochure on the series or more information, please contact Tommy Bryant at 276-739-2451 or email him at tbryant@vhcc.edu.

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dance

Contra Dance in Jonesborough!

The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will hold a contra dance on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street. Admission to the dance is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. All dances are smoke and alcohol free. No partner is necessary. Families and children are welcome! Performing for the contra dance will be Gold ‘N Light from Asheville. The band consists of Roger Gold on guitar, percussion and Laura Light on fiddle and vocals. For the contra dance, caller Lauren Kriel will conduct a class for beginners at 7:00pm where newcomers and experienced dancers alike will learn the basic steps, formations and flow of contra dance. The contra dance will run from 7:30-10:30pm. Roger Gold grew up surrounded by music. His parents and older sister all sing and play various instruments. He knew at the age of six that he wanted to play guitar and persisted until his parents found a teacher. His interests took his guitar playing from the ever present folk, through electric teen-age-rock, to traditional, Celtic, and more. He likes to “play” with the music; turning waltzes to klezmer, Bach into swing, and doing even stranger things to the tunes he writes. Roger’s guitar styles range from classical to hard driving, rhythmic, contra dance music. He enjoys contra dancing, and enjoys playing music for contra dances, and has yet to figure out how to do both at the same time. Roger partners with Mara Shea on fiddle to become the Elftones who have played contra dances for many years in the region. Another very popular band featuring Roger is Steamshovel with David White playing fiddle and banjo. Laura Light is a traditional fiddle player as well as a modern tune composer. She also plays swing, country, gospel and blues as well as traditional folk. Some of her original songs and tunes are featured on albums with the Avant Gardeners band and her own previous solo recordings, such as No Gravity. Having recently moved to Asheville, her songwriting has sprouted new wings and has led her to the studio to record them with her favorite musical partners, the hyper talented guitarist, Bert Carlson, world class percussionist Loren Oppenheimer, and everyone’s favorite bass player, Ralph Gordon, with guest appearances by Dave Bartley on mandolin and guitar and George Paul on keyboard. Contra dancing is a traditional form of American folk dance that evolved from the long ways country dances popular in English society centuries ago. Contra dance communities now thrive all over the country. There are websites that can direct you to contra dances in most states. The modern contra dances provide

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dancers of all ages and experience levels with the opportunity to smile, move, connect, flirt and create an evening of dance nirvana with each other. No previous dance experience is necessary. No fancy footwork is required. If you can walk and count to eight, you can contra dance! Contra dances are community events. At almost any contra you will find people of all ages and all dance skill levels, from young to old, beginner to expert. Contra dancers form a very open and welcoming group of people. You can come alone or with others since it is a tradition to dance with a variety of partners throughout the night. It is perfectly acceptable for either a man or a woman to ask someone to dance. It’s a great way to make friends with someone they haven’t met before. You will find contra dancing a great way to make new friends. For more information, contact event organizer, David Wiley, at 423534-8879 or visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org and Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.

travel

Journey to the Center of the Earth

ark Twain once gave us the line, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” And while I won’t debate that numbers can be misleading, I would like to point out that maps can also be persuasive. A skilled mapmaker can tweak colors, adjust label sizes, and even manipulate the projection (the compromise that comes with trying to cram the 3D earth into a 2D graphic) in numerous ways to support whatever story he or she is trying to tell. Finding the right projection to fit the purpose can be especially tricky, since it is impossible to create a map without somehow distorting features’ size, shape, distance, direction, or some combination of the four. Impossible that is, except in the case of The Mapparium. Found within the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston, MA, the Mapparium is essentially a 30 ft. high globe that depicts the surface of the earth on its inside. That’s right, to see this map, you actually venture inside the globe - via a door and a walkway that runs through the center. By standing at what would be the center of the earth and looking outward, it is possible to really see land and water features in their correct place and proportion. And that’s the point. The Mapparium is part of the Christian Science Center, headquarters of the First Church of Christ, Scientist and its world-renowned publication, the Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science (which has

absolutely nothing to do with Scientology, Tom Cruise, aliens, etc.), a nineteenth-century take on Christianity that emphasizes the healing powers of prayer, also places a strong focus on global outreach, which the Monitor certainly reflects. As such, when the library was being designed in the early 1930s, the architects developed the idea of the Mapparium to represent this global awareness.

It’s a stunningly beautiful place. The interior of the Mapparium consists of 608 removable stained glass panels, behind which are a sound system and a complex LED light arrangement, all of which act in concert during a brief presentation to demonstrate various ways of looking at our world. Of course, being in a spherical room is an interesting experience in its own right. It’s possibly the most unique and fantastic whispering gallery you’ll ever find. But it’s the map itself that’s the main draw. In my case, upon entering and looking around, three realizations immediately stood out - Most of the earth’s land area is in the northern hemisphere, Greenland and Antarctica really aren’t all that big, and lastly, the size and position of the USSR make it look absolutely terrifying. The USSR?Indeed, the Mapparium is a tool that teaches history as well as geography. You see, because it first opened in 1935, the political boundaries depicted in the Mapparium are accurate for that particular time period, back when you’d find places like Siam, Tanganyika, and East Prussia. So as a bonus, you’re getting to see the world that Indiana Jones would recognize. And for just a six dollar donation, that’s a pretty good deal.

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Answers found on page 24

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Pets Of The Week

Danny is a one year old male domestic short hair. He is neutered and up to date on all vaccines. Danny is completely blind so would have to be an inside cat. He is a very friendly and loving cat!

Chloe is a 2 year old female domestic long hair. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. She loves to be a lap cat!

The Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061Hwy 75 in Blountville,TN 37617. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue 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.

SELL .... YOUR .... STUFF

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things to do Free ‘Make and Take’ Floral Plaque Workshop Are you interested in creating unusual creative floral designs? Members of the Shady Oaks Garden Club will be presenting a workshop in the Arts and Crafts Room of the Memorial Park Community Center located at 510 Bert Street in Johnson City on April 19th from 3:30-5:30. The workshop is free and will be limited to the first 20 individuals who register. No prior experience is necessary. To register or for more information, contact the Center at 423-434-5749. You may also reserve your space by stopping by the center and inquiring at the main desk. You will be making a floral plaque which is a design of plant material and other components attached to a background panel. All materials will be provided free of charge. You will only need to bring a pair of scissors. The finished plaque will be 8” x 10” and can be hung of the wall or supported on a small easel not provided. Plaques are a fun and inexpensive way to decorate a room in your home and are also a welcome addition in hospital rooms. You are invited to enter your plaque in the upcoming Shady Oaks Garden Club Flower Show which will be held at the Memorial Park Community Center on May 20-21. Join us for some fun and creativity.

Jonesborough Community Garden The Town of Jonesborough’s Parks and Recreation Department is offering both new and experienced gardeners a chance to participate in the Jonesborough Community Garden for the 2016 planting season. The garden is located off of Hillrise Drive in Jonesborough and beds are available on a first come, first serve basis. The land is being offered for use to the public through a shared partnership between the Town and local resident, Jim Eldridge. There are 24, 4’ x 8’ raised beds available for use by the public for a low fee of $20/ year to cover the cost of water usage. Applications are available by e-mailing rachelc@ jonesboroughtn.org. In addition to offering residents the opportunity to grow their own vegetables, the community garden is also providing an avenue for residents to grow vegetables for our local food bank, Jonesborough Food Pantry.

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Any extra produce from gardens will be donated directly to The Jonesborough Food Pantry, which is supported by the Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association. Funding for the community garden was provided through a grant from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association. If you would like to participate by renting a space for the year, or if you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Rachel Conger, 423.791.3869 or rachelc@jonesboroughtn. org.

S.H.O.U.T.!® Youth Leadership taking applications for two summer sessions The Kingsport Chamber announced today its youth leadership program S.H.O.U.T.!®(Students Helping Others Understand Tomorrow) - is accepting applications for its two summer classes. Two different classes are offered. The first class will be Monday, May 23 through Friday, May 27 and the second class will be Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17. Students will meet from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day with graduation at 6 p.m. on the final day. Each day will consist of developing leadership skills and community awareness through interactive programs, speakers and other activities while having fun and making new friends. The deadline to submit an application for either class is Friday, March 18. To receive an application, contact Vanessa Bennett, director of operations & Kingsport Leadership Programs, at(423) 392-8813 or vbennett@kingsportchamber.org

Free Grief Recovery Support Group The Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center (ADMC) invites the public to a free 10-week session called “A Mindful Journey Through Grief: Grief Recovery Support in the Tri-Cities Community,” led by Debra Brewer, a clinically trained chaplain who has experience leading grief support groups for seven years. The support group is for anyone who has lost someone through death; however, the program is open to anyone who has suffered a loss of any kind and wishes to learn more. The next 10-weekly sessions begin Monday, March 21, from 6:30 p.m. to 8

RESCUE RAINIA’S RACK The Rainia Winegar Cancer Benefit

Come out and show your support for Rainia Winegar who has breast cancer, and needs financial help to assist with her mounting medical costs. H.B. Beverly, along with Broke & Busted will be performing. H.B. Beverly will be hosting the show which will start at 3 pm, and go for the next 11 hours until 2 am. H.B. is mostly known for his vast repertoire of Jimmy Buffett songs, and anything that is close to that in musical content. He’s opened for CHICAGO, MARY CHAPIN-CARPENTER, GOOSECREEK SYMPHONY, MICHAEL JOHNSON, KEVIN WELCH, and many other award winning artists and songwriters in Nashville. Also joining H.B. Beverly that night for a reunion performance will be his former keyboard player, Don Eanes, who may be better known for the national touring Gospel Rock bands UNSPOKEN, and the J.J. WEEKS BAND, who won a Dove Award last year. This will be their first time playing together since 2007, and for fans of their older shows in the early Millenium, this show is not to be missed! All three members of THE BAND PERRY has personally autographed a new Takamine acoustic sunburst guitar, which will be auctioned off that evening to the highest bidder.

p.m. at ADMC located at 108 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 3, Johnson City. The sessions involve mindful meditation, group discussion and specific topics to help members demystify grief and gain the support of others going through recent loss. Topics covered are living with grief, your grief and society, the effects of grief, losing your partner,

March 19th @ Just One More Bar and Grill

All proceeds from this event will benefit Rainia Winegar beating cancer! Come out and show your support. Open to the public. For more information visit contact Rick Maupin at (423) 609-0676.

grief and your family, your unique grief, stuck in your grief, spirituality and grief, emerging from grief, and remembrance. To sign up for the group or learn more about it, please contact Debra Brewer at grief@dharma4et.org. ADMC is located at 108 West 10th Avenue, Suite 3, Johnson City, TN. You can learn more at www.dharma4et.org.

DROP QUOTE: “The two qualities which chiefly inspire regard and affection are that a thing is your own and that it is your only one.” CRYPTOGRAM: Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

opinion

Single-Shot Shotguns When thinking of shotguns pump-action shotguns tend to be what people think of. While pump actions have they’re purposes such as bird hunting and home defense, they aren’t the most practical or fun target shooting gun. My skeet shooting readers might have just thrown their copy of The Loafer across the room, simmer down, I wasn’t talking about you, I mean paper targets, cans etc. for this kind of shooting there’s only one option, the single shot shotgun. Single shots like the H&R Pardner are lighter than their pump action counterparts, which makes them easier to hold and shoot all day. One of the obvious downsides is that most pumps hold 4+1 rounds tacticals hold as many as 8+1 these guns only hold one. That’s where the ammo belt comes into play, there are two options one is basically a fanny-pack that holds a box of shells, but this is pretty bulky which defeats the whole purpose. Next is the cartridge style belt which has vertical elastic loops that hold individual shells. Usually these belts hold 12 rounds. With practice a shooter can break open the gun and load the next round nearly as fast as it takes to pump a pump-action shotgun. One of my first firearms memories was when I was 18 I went to my local gun store and bought a H&R 12 Gauge Pardner. I was so

excited that I forgot to buy shells. The next day I wanted to go shooting so I asked my blind uncle for some shells (I knew he kept an old 12 gauge in the corner of his room). He gave me a handful of shells and out the door I went. I drove to my cousin’s land and walked out to the dirt-bank where we shot. I threw a shell in my new shotgun, brought the gun to my shoulder and pulled the trigger. I kid you not I thought it dislocated my shoulder. I almost threw my shotgun in the pond. I didn’t shoot anymore and went up to my cousin’s house and told him what happened, he broke down the shotgun ( I still had the casing in it) and he laughed and said “You poor youngin’ this is a Remington 3 ¼ “ Nitro Mag” I had put a round that would wallop you in a pump in a single shot. Luckily I hadn’t thrown my shotgun in the pond and went to the store and bought some regular target loads. I had that gun for years and probably put 1000 shells through it. 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.

theloaferonline.com | March 15, 2016 | 25

opinion

YOU’RE JUST MY TYPE

As I “type” this week’s column, I am reminded of a much earlier time when I typed stuff without having to resort to quotation marks to describe what I did. Today, we don’t actually type, but word process. So, using the word “type” is somewhat of an anachronism to describe what I do when I “write” my column—another anachronism, since “writing” rarely refers to using a pen and paper. Devices that we used to type things on “back in the day” were called typewriters, and like the current vinyl and turntable craze, these writing implements from way back when are enjoying a return to popularity. Unlike the vinyl craze, however, most people who want to relive those thrilling days of yesteryear (a flawed pursuit at best) are not flocking to stores in search of real typewriters—complete with ribbons, clacketyclack sounds, and bells—but are content with modern-day renditions of those old Smith-Coronas and Remingtons (with an occasional IBM Selectric wannabe thrown in for good measure). One of my favorite “typewriters” is the HanxWriter that resides on my iPad Pro. The “Hanx,” by the way, refers to none other than film icon Tom Hanks, who had a hand in designing this app. When you open this app, you are staring at a reasonable facsimile of a Smith-Corona portable typewriter, the kind I used to type up menus for Kelly’s Motel, my residence way, way back in the day (and, as old as I am, maybe even before). I love the way this app recreates the aural and visual experience of typing on a thoroughly mechanical typewriter. Everything is pretty authentic, down to the return bar with bell, and sound of the keys. However, some things are not authentic—like the modern-looking capitalizing keys, a special shift key that calls up an Apple keyboard rather than one belonging to a Smith-Colona, and a computer-like correct key (needless to say, it would be really difficult to use Wite-Out on an iPad screen, although no doubt some have tried). Of course, when I am finished creating my retro masterpiece, I don’t have to pull paper from the machine but can conveniently store my words somewhere in the ever-elusive Cloud. The contemporary equivalent of that little military green Smith-

26 | March 15, 2016 | theloaferonline.com

Corona I used during my Kelly’s Motel days is the Freewrite, billed as a “distraction-free” typewriter by its manufacturer Astrohaus (the company that formerly marketed the device in another iteration as the Hemingwrite). This device, which is priced at $499.00 (considerably more expensive than the Smith-Corona) and available sometime this month, looks like a retro typewriter, with its shiny black casing and retro style keyboard. And it also looks a lot like an alternate version of a laptop. No return levers are in sight, however, and there is no paper feeder. Instead, we have a screen that looks a lot like the display on a Kindle reader, plus a couple of dials. According to an article in Engadget, this neat little item “lets you cut out non-essentials while keeping the conveniences of modern tech.” For instance, you “only have an E Ink display and mechanical keyboard to work with, but there’s WiFi under the hood to sync your masterpieces with Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive and other cloud services.” Reportedly, Freewrite can store “over a million documents” internally and offers a four-week battery life. Pretty impressive. The company website describes this new typewriter as a “Distraction-free tool for writing composition. The Freewrite combines the simplicity of a typewriter with all of the modern conveniences of 2016.” A quote from Gizmodo on the website’s endorsement page declares that the “device has been built from the group up to return writers to the undistracted state needed to bang out a novel. It essentially cuts out the usual distraction budding novelists have and pares the experience of writing down to its old school roots.” There we have it—a solution to the many distractions that are present when we try to write our Great American Novel on our laptop. No more getting diverted from finishing Chapter Three by YouTube cat videos, Snapchat nonsense, or an ever-expanding Inbox. Another endorsement from CNET tells us that the “idea behind it is very 21st century—it’s tech that lets you write without interruptions from all your other tech.” Does this mean that novelists and other writers never got distracted “back in the day” when they wrote stuff on their conventional typewriters? And what about the distractions today’s budding novelists receive from their other tekkie stuff—like smartphones, tablets, and various wearables? And let’s not forget that William Faulkner was never far from his chief distraction— a now iconic and well-stocked liquor cabinet. And as I write this I am pleasantly distracted by my dog, Mallory, as she naps on the back of my comfy chair, giving my neck a much needed living pillow. A post in WSJ neatly captures the modern-day appeal of Freewrite and other retro devices like turntables, et. al. “Soon, even cloud-connected and smartphone-obsessed technophiles will be able to experience the tactile and acoustic pleasures of a manual typewriter.” So, there is more than a bit of nostalgia involved with the marketing of this new writing device. We can experience the best of the 21st century while living—vicariously at least—in another time and place. Sounds a little like an episode from “The Twilight Zone”, another retro-yet-contemporary

classic TV show. While doing some research about Freewrite, I consulted one of my favorite books from 2015 (which now seems like a long time ago), Gary Cross’s enlightening CONSUMED NOSTALGIA: MEMORY IN THE AGE OF FAST CAPITALISM. In this very interesting romp through the fields of nostalgia, Cross examines the enduring appeal of ’57 Chevys, Retro TV, classic radio broadcasts, Barbie dolls, roadside attractions, Disneyland, and other yearnings for various incarnations of “the good old days.” Cross focuses on what some historians call “evocative objects,” those things that evoke powerful memories or emotions. As Cross puts it, “Nostalgia in the past like nostalgia today was rooted in objects. People have long needed material and sensuous markers to recall and get ‘in touch’ with their social or family heritages.” What he calls “consumed nostalgia” is the marketing of evocative objects that give the illusion of reliving or recalling the past—either real or imagined. Typewriters, of course, are a part of this phenomenon, as are vinyl records and turntables. And, in my case, so are the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens that I use when not “typing.” While you ponder all this, I will close with a quote from Don Draper, who observed in Season 4 of the now-completed (and therefore retro) TV series “Mad Men” that “We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what we had.” “Wishing for what we had” drives much of our nostalgia for long-ago objects and devices. And I’m sure the makers of Freewrite are betting this sentiment drives sales when their “distraction-free” typewriter shows up on shelves in the near future (which will soon be the retro past). See you next week.

PLACING A CLASSIFED LINE AD:

Go to: www.theloaferonline.com, create an account, and enter your classified. Call 423282-1907 or email: classifieds@theloaferonline.com if you have any questions.

01 General Items 50 Farming

85 Jobs various territories throughout Tri-

133 Painting

time - Full time. Flexible hours. Must have reliable transportation, smart phone & self-motivated. Join The Loafer team today! Email resumes to info@theloafeornline. com

Bedrooms, Living Rooms, Kitchens, Offices, WHOLE HOUSES, anything you want, Competitive Pricing, Flexible Schedules, Call David or Lisa, 423-430-7358

LIVESTOCK WATER TANK Cities. Must be enthusiastic, hardworking, positive, successful. Part & DEICER Phone: 423-943-3608 Price: $ 80.00 Tuff Stuff Heavy Duty Oval a110 gallon tank, approximately 8 months old. In excellent condition. Allied Precision 2002DP Universal Drain Plug Deicer, that fits the above tank. Deicer is brand new, still in box, never used. Will sell separately. Tank $50.00; Deicer $30.00. Both purchased at Tractor Supply.

137 Transportation 141 Motorcycle/Scooters 2004 Honda XR50

Phone: 423-383-3553 Price: $ 600.00 Great running bike

70 Real Estate 72 For Sale

***Condo for sale ***

Price: $ 99,900.00 Woodstone Condos. 2 bedroom / 1.5 bath. Remax Checkmate. Contact: Wayne Bartley 423-292-2595, Deborah Bartley 423-686-6180

Homes like this don’t come available often!

Phone: 423-612-1367 Price: $ 132,000.00 306 Mockingbird Place, Blountville, TN. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath 1,080 sqft. Completely remodeled with features including hardwood floors throughout the home, updated bathroom, recessed lighting, crown molding, new roof in 2010, multi zone surround sound system wired to every room and outside the home, ADT pulse security system with motion sensors and video cameras. Contact David Fletcher - Caldwell Banker 423612-1367

107 Services

93 Drivers/Delivery

107 Services

146 Mind, Body & Spirit

147 Counseling Services

Creative Interior Home Painting. Creative Interiors Painting,

121 General Services

You’re important. Let us show you how! Hiring Drivers: OTR, Regional, Teams, Owner Opps. Morristown Drivers Service, Inc. 844-MDS-Jobs. www.MDStrucking.com

63 Community

175 Church Announcements Community Wide EASTER EGG HUNT

Join us at Piney Flats United Methodist Church, 225 Methodist Church Street, Piney Flats, for a community wide Easter Egg Hunt. Saturday, March 19th at 12:00pm. Games, crafts and Easter Egg Hunt for all ages. For more information, contact Luci Tate at 423-416-0446 or Piney Flats United Methodist Church 423-538-6937.

107 Services 129 Legal

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. Unable

to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1-800-864-9032 to start your application today!

85 Jobs 103 Sales/Marketing

Account Representative

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