The Loafer May 19th

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Wounded Warrior Project Benefit

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19 Garden Gala

...plus so much more

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 3

Volume 29 • Issue #24

Memorial Day......

Publisher Luci Tate

Thank you to all who served

Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Office Manager Luci Tate Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Elaine Farris Terry Patterson Lori Hughes Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Jeff Ginther, M.D. Karie Grace Duncan Nathan Cox Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising) All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof.

The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

in this issue ....

4 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 25 27

Wetlands Water Park opening Memorial Day Weekend A Memorial Day Tribute 13th Annual Elegant Elephant Fundraiser Gaelic Storm - Dishing Up A Serving Of Full Irish Milligan OT Students Transforms Gym to Jungle Barter Theatre Breaks Ground The Wilson Van “Gathering In The Gap” ‘The Howling’ Craft Beer & Music Fest International Sporting Event Returns to Tri-Cities Calling All Young Actors Pete’s Posse & Toss The Possum in Jonesborough Reminising About Childhood

music & fun 16 28

Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku

columns & reviews

18 She Does It Herself - “Simple Foil Prints” 20 Stargazer - “Galaxies Galore Unseen in Spring Nights” 21 Skies This Week 22 Batteries Not Included - 100 Songs, Part One 24 Screen Sceens - “Hot Pursuit” 26 The Trivial Traveler - “Watchin’ The Tide Roll Away” 29 Lock, Stock & Barrel - “Rescuing Your Gun” 30 Kelly’s Place - “It’s Only Words”

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Opening Memorial Day Weekend

Nothing signifies the beginning of summer in Jonesborough more than the opening of Wetlands Water Park. Located at 1523 Persimmon Ridge Park in Jonesborough, Wetlands is in its second decade of providing great, safe, outdoor family fun. The water park officially opens on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m. with an exciting summer season in store for families and children.

Park goers can plan to spend an entire day at Wetlands, enjoying three flume water slides, two family otter slides and a lazy river.

Along with the slides and the pool, there is a zero depth pool, which allows access to people of all ages, particularly the little ones, who can enjoy additional features such as water bubblers, spray features, dump buckets and a rain tree.

Swimming builds up an appetite and Wetlands boasts a full service café to meet those needs. There is also a beach volleyball court, picnic tables and a massive sun deck.

Matt Townsend, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, mentioned some other surprises in store for Wetlands this year. “We are also in the works of planning some special events, which will include after-hours swimming sessions, pass giveaways and special social media promotions you can find only on our Facebook, Twitter

and Instagram pages.” He encourages everyone in Jonesborough to go to the Wetlands Water Park Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, follow them and stay connected for these upcoming offers.

Wetlands also hosts private parties for companies and organizations. The water park is also the perfect venue for hosting summertime birthday parties, with group discounts for parties of ten or more guests.

The water park also offers swimming lessons throughout the season for $60. This provides students of all ages a great opportunity to take advantage of the physical fitness benefits of swimming, which has been proven to be a healthy, all around activity.

Wetlands provides a way to make swimming a part of the community’s regular routine this year by offering affordable rates on daily passes and an even better bargain with their season passes. The daily ticket rate is $12 for adults and $9 for children and seniors, while a season pass--a great value-- will pay for itself after the sixth visit to the park. Season pass rates are $80 for adults and $60 for children ages 4 – 12 and seniors 55 and over.

Townsend is excited for everything this season at Wetlands has to offer, saying, “We are looking

forward to what is sure to be a great year.”

For more information about the upcoming season, call Wetlands at 423-753-1553, visit their website at wetlandsjonesborough.com. Find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Wetlands Water Park.

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Rocky Mount Museum’s “Music On The Mount, A Memorial Day Tribute”

Rocky Mount Historical Association (RMHA) will host the Johnson City Community Concert Band (JCCC Band) as they present a free outdoor concert to the public at 7:00 PM, Tuesday May 26, on the grounds of Rocky Mount Museum. Entitled “Music on the Mount, A Memorial Day Tribute”, the concert will feature selections of popular movie scores, patriotic music, and other favorite tunes. A great event for the entire family, Rocky Mount recommends bringing picnic blankets, or folding chairs, to best enjoy the evening.

The concert is free, but donations will be graciously accepted.

The Johnson City Community Concert Band is conducted by Rozanne Haskill. Made up of local volunteers musicians, the JCCC Band has been providing free concerts to the area for over 30 years.

See www.jcccband.org for more information and concert schedule.

The concert kicks off Rocky Mount’s 2015’s participation in “Blue Star Museums” a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 muse-

Tennessee Historic Site administered cooperatively with the Tennessee Historical Commission and the Rocky Mount Historical Association.

ums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2015. Leadership support has been provided

by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military

move. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums .

Rocky Mount will offer free admission for it’s “Living History Tour” to qualifying personnel and family members throughout the summer.

(Tuesday-Saturday: 11-4).

For more information call (423) 538-7396 or 888-538-1791.

Rocky Mount Museum is a “living history” museum, which uses first-person interpretation to por-

tray people living in 1791. We are opened for tours Tuesday through Saturdayfrom 11:00 am until 5:00 pm with the last tour starting by 4:00. Living History tours and the facility are available by reservation at any time, including Sundays and Mondays for school and other groups, with advance reservations. For more information, call (423) 538-7396 or visit our website at rockymountmuseum. com. Rocky Mount is a State of

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Abingdon Arts Depot to hold

13th Annual Elegant Elephant Fundraiser & Garage Sale The “Elegant Elephant” will make its annual appearance on Plum Alley Day in Abingdon, Saturday, May 23rd from 10 AM until 4 PM. This fundraiser will be held at the Arts Depot on Abingdon’s historic Depot Square. This is more than your ordinary garage sale, featuring unique items for sale such as art and art supplies, vintage collectables, furniture, china, crystal, silver, jewelry, antiques, books, CD’s/DVD’s, household items, and much more. Two galleries and seven resident artists’ studios will also be open.

In preparation for this fundraiser the Depot Artists Association asks the community to please bring items to be donated to the Arts Depot at 314 Depot Square, Abing-

don, VA any Wednesday through Saturday prior to the sale between 10am and 4pm. Receipts for goods contributed will be available.

The Arts Depot is operated by a non-profit 501(c) (3) volunteer organization that is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community and features the region’s artists. The Arts Depot is located in the historic Depot Square area of downtown Abingdon, VA. The gallery and resident working artists studios are open Thursday thru Saturday, 10-4 pm, until 9pm on the first Thursday of each month and by appointment. There is no admission charge. Classes in the visual arts are offered periodically. For further information, please contact the Arts Depot at

(276) 628-9091, or e-mail at abingdonartsdepot@eva.org or visit their web site at www.abingdonartsdepot.org.

Memorial Day Ceremony

Jonesborough’s Board of Mayor & Alderman and Veteran’s Affairs Committee will host the town’s tribute to veterans on May 24 at 2:30 p.m. at the Visitors Center.

In honor of both living and deceased veterans Jonesborough’s Memorial Day celebration will include a musical tribute featuring songs performed by the Johnson

City Community Concert Band, under the direction of Roxanne Haskill. Presenters will also include Jonesborough Veteran’s Affairs Committee Chair Marion Light, Heritage Alliance Executive Director Deborah Montanti, Jonesborough Mayor Kelly Wolfe, Daniel Boone Marine JROTC and the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor

Guard.

Marking the 32nd event Jonesborough has hosted in honor of veterans, the tribute will take place on Sunday, May 24 at 2:30 p.m. at the Jonesborough Visitors Center. For additional information, call 423-753-1010 or visit jonesboroughtn.org.

Horton Sports Memorial Day Fast Pitch Classic Slated for Winged Deer Park

The Parks and Recreation Foundation has teamed up once again with Horton Sports to bring Johnson City an action-packed funfilled weekend of fast-pitch softball.

In its first two years, the Memorial Day Classic had more than 50 teams from four states participating. This year’s event, set for May 22-24, is expected to be one of East Tennessee’s premier competitions with openings in the 8/U CoachPitch, 10-12, 14-16, and 18/U divisions. Organizers have assembled a tremendous prize package that

will award players on the top three teams in every age group.

The tournament format will be two pool games followed by a double-elimination bracket to determine the champions. Berths to the Tennessee ASA state tournaments will be awarded to the top three teams in each division.

All teams are required to show proof of ASA registration or must register on site. All bats must be ASA approved, and tournament softballs will be furnished. Coaches are reminded that proof of age (as determined by ASA Code)

must be provided. Due to the anticipated number of entries, Friday night starts may be required.

Entry fee is $75 for 8/U CoachPitch and $200 for all other age groups. Entry forms are available at the Winged Deer Park Athletic Office. All proceeds will go to the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Foundation, a non-profit 501C3 organization established to assist the department in program offerings, materials, supplies, equipment, etc. For more information, please call (423)926-1708 or email sgumpire01@charter.net.

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Gaelic Storm

Dishing Up A Serving of Full Irish

Gaelic Storm will be hitting the historic Paramount stage on May 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm. Anyone that enjoys folk, singer/songwriter, Celtic music or just wants to see a great show, needs to be at the Paramount Center for the Arts in historic downtown Bristol on Friday, May 29.

After 10 albums, and nearly 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm — the chart-topping, multi-national Celtic band — is dishing up a hearty serving of Full Irish. The greatest-hits album spans the bulk of the band’s career from 20042014, mixing crowd favorites and concert staples with three previously unreleased recordings.

Gaelic Storm has straddled the line between tradition and innovation for nearly two decades. Led by founding members Patrick Murphy and Steve Twigger, the group infuses traditional Celtic music with modern influences, updating the genre for a new generation of fans raised on rock, country and folk. Along the way, the musicians have topped the Billboard World Chart four times, appeared in the blockbuster film “Titanic” (where they performed “Irish Party in Third Class,” an unreleased song made available for the first time on Full Irish) and earned a reputation as a hard-touring, genre-bending band.

“We have earned every single one of our fans, one at a time,” Murphy says. “There’s no sponsorship. No corporation is pulling strings. Every fan is made by us playing a show and shaking

hands and learning names. We’ve become friends with so many of them. When someone at a show tells me they’ve never seen Gaelic Storm before, I say, “Welcome to the family.’”

Full Irish pays tribute to the group’s diverse journey. The album features sea shanties and drinking songs, traditional tunes and originals, instrumental workouts and vocal showcases. “Whiskey in the Jar,” another brand new recording, even harks back to Gaelic Storm’s early days as a pub band in Santa Monica, California, long before the group played the Telluride Festival, the Rock Boat cruise, or high-profile theaters in countries like France and Spain.

Together, these 15 songs celebrate the sunny side of life, urging listeners to raise their pint glass and stomp their feet.

“When you go eat pub food in Ireland,” explains Steve Twigger, “you can order the ‘Full Irish,” which is a combination of mushrooms, beans, bacon, sausage, black pudding, white pudding…

It’s the works, basically. That idea seemed to represent everything about this album. This is the works. Everything we do is represented.”

Regularly playing more than 120 shows a year, Gaelic Storm has built a loyal following as diverse as the band’s own music. Fans of traditional Irish music have championed the group for years, but so have fans of harder-edged Celtic rock. On tour, Gaelic Storm is just as likely to play a large rock club

as a plush theater. The band makes regular appearances on cruises, too, joining artists like the Barenaked Ladies and Michael Franti.

“Our audience spans the whole spectrum,” Twigger says. “We’ll play a rock venue one night, then a performing arts center that might’ve hosted a ballet performance the night before. We’ve got hardcore fans who love our energy, Jimmy Buffet fans who love our message, folk fans who love our stories. Everyone can appreciate it, and that’s been the secret to our longevity.”

“Looking back over our past albums is like flipping through a photo album,” adds percussionist Ryan Lacey, who joined the band in 2003. “Each record was made during a different time and a completely different phase of our lives.

What hasn’t changed is the message. We want everybody to have a good time, to enjoy themselves.

It’s the sort of message that everyone can get behind.”

Although Full Irish takes a look backward, Gaelic Storm is still moving ahead at full speed.

There’s another studio album in the works, as well as plenty of tour dates on the books. Hungry for more rule-breaking Celtic music?

Full Irish will satisfy your appetite… even if it’s just an appetizer for what’s to come.

Join us on Friday, May 29, 2015 7:30 pm Tickets available at 423-274-8920 www.theparamountcenter.com or www.etix.com

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From gym to jungle

Milligan OT students transform gym for special needs children The gymnasium at the Palmer Center, an early childhood learning center within Kingsport City School in Kingsport, Tennessee, clearly needed some work.

“Our gym had virtually nothing,” said Jill Tursam, a certified occupational therapy assistant at the Palmer Center, which serves a mixed population of children, including kids with special needs such as autism, physical impairments, Down syndrome and developmental delay.

“It was a very stark, bright white space,” she added. “It could be offensive for a lot of our children, especially for those with sensory defensiveness.”

For two students in Milligan College’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program, Elizabeth Reece and Morgan Martino, the gym’s white space was a blank canvas for a work of art.

“They came in with the pur-

pose to make that gym more kid friendly,” said Tursam.

As part of their final research project in the MSOT program, Reece and Martino spent roughly 16 months planning how to transform the gym into a sensory experience for the children at the Palmer Center.

Armed with grant funding, they went to work, hiring local artist Suzanne Barrett Justis to paint an Amazon-themed mural on the wall replete with a huge leopard, colorful frogs and beautiful butterflies.

For children with tactile defensiveness—an aversion to and fear of touch sensations—the sensory table they built gives children a chance to get more subtle stimulation from objects with various textures and sensations.

The therapy swing will help students improve balance and spatial orientation, and the crash pad—a large pad designed for children to

jump onto—helps them get “deep pressure” sensations, said Tursam, and “learn where their body is in space.”

“Research shows that learning is facilitated through the senses,” said Reece, who’s from Church Hill, Tennessee. “Our goal from the beginning was to add features to the Palmer Center that would help children with tactile defensiveness learn more.”

“The crash pad and sensory table also will enable those children to get much-needed social interaction from their peers,” said Martino, who’s from Kingsport. “They can learn from each other.”

Both students will graduate in December 2015. Reece plans to stay in the Tri-Cities after graduation and is interested in possibly working as an occupational therapist in pediatrics, adult orthopedics or skilled nursing facilities.

Martino plans to become an occupational therapist in either an

acute care or inpatient rehabilitation setting working with adults.

“One of the reasons I love supervising grad projects is because they serve a dual purpose,” said Dr. Christy Fellers, associate professor of occupational therapy.

“Our students are learning the art and practice of occupational therapy through the experience of serving others, and those we serve benefit from our students’ learning and labors of love.”

“These projects fit perfectly with

the mission of Milligan College, which is to honor God by educating men and women to become servant leaders,” added Fellers.

For Tursam, the project transformed the gym—the crash pad being a particular favorite. “We have a line of children in the gym waiting on their turn,” she said.

For additional information about Milligan’s MSOT program, call 423.975.8010 or email MSOT@ Milligan.edu. To learn more about Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu.

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Barter Theatre Breaks Ground on New Building

Construction is now beginning on a new building for Barter Theatre. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, May 14 to kick-off the creation of a new facility for the properties department, often referred to as the Prop Shop. The land for this building is already owned by Barter and is located is on Barter Drive in Abingdon.

Currently, the Prop Shop is housed in the more than 100-yearold, general production building, and shares space with rehearsal halls, the costume shop and sound studio. The construction of a separate Prop Shop is an important step for Barter’s growing production schedule, and will create a more efficient workspace for more employees. Barter has already begun hiring additional props staff in preparation for the expansion.

“I am so excited to see this come to fruition. Since 1999, when I was only a carpenter in the shop, I was aware of the need for more room for the properties department,” says Barter’s Properties Master Helen Stratakes. “It took no time for me to run out of room to build. Our crew will now have a space to be able to spread out and get our work done. We will be able to weld, saw and paint at the same time, without having to worry about getting sawdust in the paint.”

Many Barter patrons do not

Delegate Terry Kilgore, Debbie Smith, CEO of Food City Steve Smith, President of Barter Theatre Board of Trustees Nancy DeFriece, Barter Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose, Senator Bill Carrico, Debbie Quillen, Member of the Barter Theatre Board of Trustees Howard McElroy, Barter Theatre’s Properties Master Helen Stratakes, and CEO of BurWil Construction and BurWil Construction Board Chair William Burris break ground on the new Barter Theatre prop shop. realize that nearly every component of all Barter productions are conceptualized, designed and constructed at Barter in facilities like the new Prop Shop. “What a dream come true to finally have a shop that will more easily allow our artists to create the worlds our patrons see onstage everyday,” says Barter’s Director of Production and Associate Artistic Director Camille Davis, “If you think

about it in terms of houses, the scene shop builds the entire structure of the house and the prop shop creates what fills the house including all the furniture, appliances, food, decorations and even curtains.”

The funds being used to construct the new building are part of the Barter Capital Campaign, which began in 2008 with the purpose of raising funds for projects

like this one. Projects creating a more enjoyable experience for audience members were completed first with Capital Campaign funds including extensive renovations to the Barter Theatre lobby, which were completed in 2012. Capital Campaign funds also launched Barter’s Project REAL (Reinforcing Education through Artistic Learning) and are being used for renovations to the Barter staff housing facility, The Barter Inn. The Capital Campaign is cochaired by Steve and Debbie Smith from Food City and Mike and Debbie Quillen of Alpha Natural Resources. This project is also funded in part by The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. Barter’s Director of Advancement Katherine Foreman says, “Every time Barter Theatre takes a big step forward, it’s because people

throughout the region value the impact Barter has on local communities. We are grateful to the many individuals and businesses whose investment in the new prop shop will make a difference for decades to come.”

The bid for the new Prop Shop was awarded to BurWil Construction, a local firm who has completed construction on many recognizable buildings in the area. Some of BurWil’s projects include: The Bristol Public Library, Alpha Natural Resources Corporate Headquarters, The Bristol Train Station and The East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy among many others.

Currently, Barter Theatre and BurWil Construction plan to have the new Prop Shop completed in the fall of 2015

Page 10, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy hosts Appalachian Spring 2015

Local land trusts celebrates conservation at Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens on May 21

Photo by: David Ramsey

On Thursday, May 21, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) will host an Appalachian Spring celebration at the Farmhouse Gallery and Gardens in Unicoi, TN from 6 to 8 pm. Celebrating over 40 years of conservation in local communities, the event will include footstomping entertainment provided by the ETSU Old Time Pride Band.

“We are so grateful to all the dedicated members, volunteers, and community supporters who help us protect majestic places like the Highlands of Roan and Rocky Fork,” said Kristy Urquhart, SAHC Associate Director.

“We look forward to sharing an evening of celebration and merriment.”

The 2015 Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year award, which honors individuals who make outstanding volunteer contributions to the work of SAHC, will also be presented during the event.

Tickets are $30 in advance, or $35 at the door, and include: dinner catered by the Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens, beverages, music, and fellowship.

Sponsors for this event include Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens, Equinox Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture, Highland Brewing Company, USA Raft, Wilson Worley Attorneys at Law, and One Stop Wines & Spirits. Proceeds from the event will support local land and water conservation efforts.

For more info or to purchase tickets now, visit Appalachian.org or call (828) 253-0095.

About Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy: Founded in 1974 by passionate Appalachian Trail hikers and conservationists concerned about the globally imperiled Highlands of Roan, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has protected over 68,000 acres of unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland and scenic beauty of the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. For more info, visit Appalachian.org.

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3rd Annual Wounded Warrior Project Benefit Concert

On June 6th 2015 we will be hosting the 3rd annual benefit concert and bike run for The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

This event is registered with WWP & the event ID is: 25707 Last year we were able to raise over $10,000 thanks to contributions from many of you.

This year we will be having a bike run with registration at 12noon and kickstands up at 1PM. The ride will last for about 2 hours with a stop at the VFW post, after which it will return to Biggie’s.

Live music will begin at 5pm with Ivy Road & Benny Wilson, followed by Borderline, The Bluesmen, Rock & Roll Freak Show, The Well Dogs, Lance Stinson, Acous-

May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 11

tifried, The Bart Walker Band & Much More!!!

Throughout the night, we will be hosting raffles and giveaways as well as selling t-shirts and taking direct donations. We are asking you to help us out in any way that you can, so that we may raise as much money as possible for the WWP. Any kind of donations, prizes for giveaways, advertising, etc. will be greatly appreciated.

If you wish to be part of this great event please email Robert at Robert@biggiesclambar.com .

Let us know what you are able to contribute and if you would like your logo to be on the advertising please send along in the email.

Steele Creek Park

passports now available It is that time of year when we are all trying to find things for our kids to do during the warm summer months. There are so many options, but keeping them out in the fresh air and moving is key to most parents. The perfect solution is - a Steele Creek Park Passport.

The passport is good for one year from the date of purchase. The park passport gives the family access not only to the park, but adventure, health, fitness, exercise, the beauty of nature, imagination and of course sports.

Steele Creek Park encompasses over 2,200 acres including a beautiful lodge with a large main room and kitchen facilities, smaller party and conference rooms. There are currently 9 rental shelters spread throughout the park that are reasonably priced for families. The park has 20 picnic tables arranged in different areas of the park, some by the creek itself, some in more wooded areas and some even near the playground area for use by all park visitors.

The primary area used by the park is approximately 75 acres

with a 52 acre lake which may be toured by water on one of the parks paddle boats. There is a 2,600 square-foot Nature Center with a diverse array of live animals and exhibits showcasing the natural history of the park.

The most popular activity at the park is of course the Steele Creek Express with more than 18,000 riders per year. Another favorite of young and old alike are the many walking, hiking, and bike trails throughout the park.

Families will have unlimited access to the park and can enjoy as much fun as they can pack into each day and more with the purchase of the Steele Creek Park Passport for just $50.00.

The passports may be purchased at the following locations: the entrance gate and golf shop at Steele Creek Park located at 4 Little Lane, the Finance Office at City Hall located at 801 Anderson St., and the Slater Center office located at 325 McDowell Street.

For more information contact Terry Napier at 423-764-4023 or email tnapier@bristoltn.org.

Mini Jump Start JC Preschool Camp

Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., invites campers ages 3-5 to participate in a Mini Jump Start JC Preschool Camp on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 9-July 2. Participants will enjoy arts, crafts, games, sports and swimming. Camp will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. daily, with an optional 7:30 a.m. early drop-off ($20 a week additional charge). Children must be potty trained and 3 years old before the first day of camp. Cost is $100 per camper. Registration is now open at https://apm.activecommunities. com/jcparks. For more information, please call (423) 434-5749.

Page 12, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

The Wilson Van

at the 9th Annual “Gathering In The Gap” Hollywood Shines On 9th Annual “Gathering In The Gap” Music Festival. Actor Patrick Wilson and The Wilson Van headline annual music, arts and crafts festival in Big Stone Gap, VA After eight years of celebrating the rich and authentic music from the mountains of Southwest Virginia, the organizers of the 2015 Gathering in the Gap have gone Hollywood – and they’ve done it with some Virginia boys.

Golden-Globe, Emmy and TonyAward nominated actor Patrick Wilson is scheduled to return to his home state of Virginia – along

with his brothers Paul and Mark – who make up their family rock band, The Wilson Van. Together they’ll headline the ninth annual Gathering in the Gap Music Festival on May 23, 2015.

It’s a familiar place for Wilson, who stars alongside Ashley Judd in the upcoming feature film Big Stone Gap, the screen adaptation of bestselling author Adriana Trigiani’s novel by the same name.

Trigiani, a Big Stone Gap native, penned the novel and its subsequent sequels that sold millions worldwide.

Big Stone Gap, the movie, was written and directed by Adriana Trigiani and shot entirely in and around Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The film also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Jenna Elfman, Anthony LaPaglia and John Benjamin Hickey. Patrick’s eldest brother Paul, the lead singer of The Wil-

son Van, appears in the movie as well. While details are pending on the worldwide release and distribution of Big Stone Gap, festival organizers have decided to theme their event around the movie.

“Big Stone Gap itself was the star of the movie and while I’m sworn to secrecy on when and where the movie will be released, I can tell you we will make this year’s Gathering in the Gap very big,” said Big Stone Gap movie writer/ director Adriana Trigiani.

“We wanted to celebrate news of the release of Big Stone Gap the movie by celebrating the area, the music, the people and the town who starred in it. So we’ll have the movie stars and the movie’s writer and director, our hometown star,

Wilson Van ....

Continued on next page

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 13

Wilson Van .... Continued from previous page Adriana Trigiani,” said Sharon Ewing, Park Manager of Southwest Virginia Museum Historical Park.

The 2015 Gathering in Gap will feature performances by acclaimed artists If Birds Could Fly and Adriana Trigiani’s brother, songwriter Michael Trigiani, who was also raised in Big Stone Gap, though he now lives in Nashville. Michael Trigiani will perform some of his original music that is featured in the movie Big Stone Gap. A special afternoon performance will feature Grammy-nominated cellist Dave Eggar and Deoro. As the event coincides with Memorial Day, active-duty military and veterans who show military identification will receive a discounted ticket price.

Advance tickets for Gathering in the Gap are $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for active duty military and veterans, with military identification. Tickets at the gate on the day of the event are $20.00 for adults

and $17.00 for active duty military and veterans, with military identification. Kids 12 and under are free. Tickets are available at www.gatheringinthegapmusicfestival.com or by phone at (276) 523-1322.

The Friends of Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park sponsors the Gathering in the Gap at the park. Along with the main stage lineup, the festival features instrument and band competitions, a songwriting contest, a children’s area, arts and crafts, food and a Youth Workshop for kids 18 and under led by Grammy-nominated cellist Dave Eggar. The Gathering in the Gap celebrates the rich tradition of old-time, Americana and bluegrass music found in the region.

The “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show, now in its 18th year, will also be featured at the Southwest Virginia Museum with more than 100 quilts showcasing regional artistry.

www.gatheringinthegapmusicfestival.com

Wolf Hills Brewing Presents ‘The Howling’ Craft Beer & Music Festival

About a dozen hand­picked bands are gearing up to rock the first­ever Wolf Hills Brewing Company craft beer and music festival, “The Howling,” May 30 in Abingdon, Va. The festival will bring a variety of fresh, hand­crafted beers, gourmet food trucks and locals together over a sprawling countryside venue to enjoy music from artists like renowned indie­progressive rock band “Moon Taxi” of Nashville and more. Wolf Hills will be breaking out their popular staples as well as limited release, festival­ only style beers for patrons to enjoy at the event.

The Howling is slated to be held at the Southwest Virginia 4­H Educational Center, where attendees are also invited to camp overnight

on the 78­acre rural grounds. The grounds will open the day of the festival at 12 p.m. for camping set­ up; general entry will begin at 1 p.m., with musical performances kicking off at 2 p.m. The closing act is scheduled to conclude by 11 p.m.

The full lineup, in addition to Moon Taxi, will include The Breeze Kings (Blues Atlanta), C2 & The Brothers Reed (Rock ­ Lexington, Ky.), The Hermit Kings (Indie Rock –Asheville, N.C.), The Darnell Boys (Blues/Rock ­ Athens, Ga.), Guy Marshall (Americana/Roots – Knoxville, Tenn.), Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass (Alt­Country/Blues ­ Johnson City, Tenn.), Ordinary Bitters (Country – Abingdon, Va.), 49 Winchester (Folk Rock – Castlewood, Va.), The Pointer Brothers (Americana/Bluegrass – Abingdon) and Logan Fritz (Indie­Folk/ Alt­Rock/Blues ­ Abingdon). Food vendors include Toni’s Hawaiian Tacos, Slammin’ Sammy’s Sandwiches, Foodie Fiction and more.

As a special side attraction, a group of local artists are gathering during the festival to paint a mural onto a 500­gallon fermentation vessel. It will return home to Wolf Hills where it will be used as their sour beer aging tank. Plans are to hve a special beer aged in this fermenter present at second rendition of The Howling festival next year Festival tickets are available for purchase online beginning Sunday, April 5 and are $20 when purchased in advance with an additional $10 fee for camping, if desired. Prices will increase to $25 for entry and $15 for camping the day of the event. All ages are welcome to attend and children 7 years old and younger are admitted free of charge. Anyone under 21 years old must be accompanied by an adult to camp.

For additional information, contact Wolf Hills Brewing Co. at (276) 451­5470 or visit them on the web at www.wolfhillsbrewing. com.

Page 14, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

International Sporting Event Returns to the Tri Cities

Professional, Elite masters, and other amatuers racers will return to the Tri Cities to challenge the local terain and each other June 6 and 7. Scantioned by USA Cycling the Slow Ride Omnuim brings the international sport of bicycle racing to Carter, Unicoi, and Washington Counties.

Sponsorship by New Belgin Slow Ride, Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Tennessee Donate Life, Tupleo Honey Cafe, and Carter County Tourism has provided a purse of $12,000 for the event. The prize list will continue to draw the high level of competition the spectators have learned to expecet for this event.

The first race, Carter County Roan Groan, begins at 9:00 am Saturday June 6 at Cat Island Park, Elizabethton. The profesional cyclist will compete on an 85 mile course through Carter and Unicoi Counties. Their finish will be at Carvers Gap after a category 1 climb of 7.25 miles. All the amateur categories will also finish at Carvers Gap after racing either 50 or 30 miles. This unique East Coast, mountain top finish brings racers from throughout the nation including previous Tour of Italy participants.

The second race Saturday at 5:30 pm is the Tupleo Honey Time Trial. It starts in Erwin on Temple Hill Road and goes 3.1 miles into Unicoi County. The close competi-

ton last year had the first and secound place finishers seperated by less than one tenth of a secound on a course with a one mile climb.

After gathering points for the Slow Ride Omnuim in the first two races, the final chance to win points in the three-stage race is the Franklin Woods Community Hospital Criterium on Blue Plum Sunday, June 7. Races begin at 8:00 am with the professional race beginning at 2:30 pm. Some riders will be vying to win the criterium race while others will be racing strategically for the Omnium win. The high speeds and closeness to the spectators gets the crowds excited, which in turn motivates the racers.

Some people come for the food at on course restaurants but then get fully involved in the races. Main Street Pizza, Labels, and Tipton Street Pub have outdoor seating on the race course. The race is also visible from Tupleo Honey Cafe’s outdoor seating.

Just before the Pro race the Blue Pedal Kids Fun Ride will give age 10 and under kids an opportunity to ride the same course as the professionals and it’s for free! Kids Race riders will become our future Olympians?

Full details at www.pcpomni. wordpress.com also video and pictures at www.facebook.com/ pages/Johnson-City-Omnium

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Calling All Young Actors: Theatre Bristol Summer Camp Early Registration Now Open

Theatre Bristol brings back summer camp with The Start of Adventure, as classic tales retake the stage to mark its 50th Anniversary.

Theatre Bristol proudly announces its 2015 children’s summer camp The Start of Adventure: Classic Tales Retake the Stage, running July 20-24 at 512 State Street, Bristol, Tennessee.

Campers will explore theatre and acting skills from talented and highly respected teachers and theatre veterans in the area, including Glenn Patterson, director of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Miracle on 34th Street, and Scrooge The Musical!, and the upcoming Les Miserables, and Laura O’Bryan, lead actress in many Theatre Bristol productions. “We’re really excited to be bringing our camp program back this year,” says James Altman, the camp coordinator, “We’re also very thankful to the professionals who will be teaching the campers valuable theatrical skills and knowledge.” Guided by the Theatre Bristol Youth Service Board (YSB), campers will spend the week learning acting skills, creative movement, music, costuming, makeup design, set design, props, and more.

At the end of the week, campers will get to perform three classic shows from Theatre Bristol’s early days. Kindergarten and first graders will participate in Cinderella, a show performed many years through Theatre Bristol’s history; second, third, and fourth graders participate in Tom Sawyer, its first “official” show and a classic performed many years through Theatre Bristol’s history; and fifth and sixth graders will participate in Rip Van Winkle, a major original production enlisting the significant involvement of the Bristol community. As a

special treat for the campers and their families, the Theatre Bristol Youth Service Board will perform Land of the Jesters, Theatre Bristol’s inaugural show.

The Start of Adventure: Classic Tales Retake the Stage is organized by the Theatre Bristol Youth Service Board, with guidance and counsel from the Theatre Bristol Board of Directors. “I see camp as a great way for the YSB to learn leadership, organization, planning, and responsibility,” says Camille Gray, the Youth Service Board president, “We have all had wonderful opportunities on and off stage, and now we get a chance to offer our experience and knowledge to the next generation of young actors. I know Cathy would be proud.”

Camp will run Monday to Friday from 8:45am to 4:30pm, with early drop-off and late pick-up times available. Theatre Bristol will provide a healthy snack in the afternoon, however campers will need to pack a lunch each day. Registration is available online at www.theatrebristol.org. In addition, Theatre Bristol will be open from 10am to 2pm Saturdays, June 27 and July 11th to register at the office on 512 State Street. The early bird registration discount period is open until May 25, with a cost of only $125 per child, and $50 for each additional sibling. Regular registration begins May 25. The cost per camper is $150, with a family discount of each additional child reduced to $75. Financial assistance applications are also available. Space is limited so register soon!

For more information about camp and registration, please visit www.TheatreBristol.org or email info@theatre bristol.org.

2-Day Basketry Painting/Weaving Class with Katherine O’Neal

Friday May 29th • 6 pm til 9 pm - Saturday May 30th • 10 am til 4 pm (allowing a bit of time for lunch) ---some will finish earlier, but some might need the entire time.

Cost: $30 class fee, $15 materials fee & Total cost: $45 (both days) Maximum of 8 people Friday Night - Painting Session: Using your favorite colors of acrylic paints and fun painting techniques, we will paint heavy watercolor paper, then let it dry overnight.

Saturday - Weaving Session: We will cut the paper into strips, then, using simple, traditional basket weaving techniques, we will weave the strips into baskets that are suitable for holding cocktail napkins and other small items. A coat of varnish will be applied to make the baskets durable. Class is suitable for beginners and experienced basket makers.

Registration can be done online at www.EngageKingsport.com or by calling (423) 3928414 or in person at the Flying Pig Gallery & Studios at the corner of Broad and West Center Streets in Downtown Kingsport.

NOTE: Since the paint must be completely dry before cutting and weaving, participants must attend both sessions.

May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 15

Page 16, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

Spotlight D

TUESDAY - May 19

SOUTHERN REBELLION

BILLY CRAWFORD BAND

JASON LLOYD & FRIENDS

BACKWOODS BLUEGRASS

SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country)

at Biggie’s Clam Bar

ERIK FUNKHOUSER w/ LADY WILDFIRE at Acoustic Coffeehouse

WEDNESDAY - May 20 OPEN MIC

7pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe at Family Barn

NIGHTSHIFT

(Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) 7pm at The Lion’s Club

LIVE MUSIC

8pm at Bone Fire Smokehouse

SUNDOWN BAND (Country)

at Wilderness Trail Car Show

JASON ‘the comeback kid’ EDWARDS

JASON ‘the comeback kid’ EDWARDS at Mecca Lounge LIVE MUSIC

GREG MAYNARD

NOSTALGIA BAND

at Mad Greek Restaurant 6pm at Sonny’s Cafe

RED SAMMY

at Acoustic Coffeehouse

THURSDAY - May 21

7pm at Marker “2” Grill 10pm at Old South

MARK LARKINS

6:30pm at Triple B Brewery

THE FUGITIVES at Biggie’s Clam Bar

at Holiday Inn (exit 7)

7pm at Jericho Temple

HILLBILLY GYPSIES at Carter Family Fold

NOSTALGIA - TRIO

6:30pm at Peerless Restaurant

LIL’ MERLE & THE COUNTRY ROCKERS at Family Barn

APPALCHIAN STRINGS 7pm at David Thompson’s Produce

THOMAS TAYLOR

at Country Club Bar & Grill

ALTER’D STATE at Triple B Brewery

LIVE MUSIC

at Bone Fire Smokehouse

WHITE & BLACK ACCIDENTAL SEABIRDS

DJ LILLEY

SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country) at The Outdoorsman MOONLIGHT RUN

CAROLINE ROSE

SUNDAY - May 24

SATURDAY - May 23

JOE LASHER, JR

LIVE MUSIC

CATFISH FRYE BAND

IVY ROAD

MARK LARKINS

THE JONES BOYS

JAZZ

at Wellington’s - Carnegie Hotel 7pm at Sonny’s Cafe

Thursday Jams 7pm at Abingdon Market Pavilion 7pm at Marker “2” Grill at Salsarita’s 6pm

NOSTALGIA - DUO

6:30pm at Tavern @ The Ridges

DEER RUN DRIFTERS at Bone Fire Smokehouse

LILLI JEAN

at The Acoustic Coffeehouse

FRIDAY - May 22

NONPRONTO STEPHANIESID UNCLE MICK KYTE at Acoustic Coffeehouse

at Country Club Bar & Grill

(Rockin’ Boogie Blues) 7pm at Marker “2” Grill at Biggie’s Clam Bar

ACOUSTIFRIED (Country) 7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

NIGHTSHIFT

(Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) 7pm at Raytheon Park

DAISI RAIN (Country, Pop) at

Memory Lane Festival-Antique Car Show

GATHERING IN THE GAP

(Old-time bluegrass, blues & Americana) at SW VA Museum Historical State Park

SOUTHERN REBELLION at 11E Sports Bar

at Acoustic Coffeehouse

6pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe at Marker “2” Grill

LIVE MUSIC

at Bone Fire Smokehouse STEVIE JEWEL FORLORN STRANGERS at Acoustic Coffeehouse

MONDAY - May 25 HB BEVERLY

2pm at Bristol VFW

NOSTALGIA - DUO 6pm at Chick-Fil-A

SHADES of ACOUSTIFRIED 2pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse

11 E Sports Bar 5580 Blue Springs Prkwy Greenville 423/ 525-1292

Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 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 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons Va 276/594-0676 Chick – Fil-A 2103 W Market St Johnson City 423/ 232-2880

Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 Family Barn 1718 US Highway 19 Hansonville VA

Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100

The Lions Club 116 Industrial Park Rd. Chilhowie VA 276/646-3916

Marker “2’ Grill at Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock, Kingsport 423/323-4665 The Mecca Lounge 117 Spring St Johnson City 423/928-9360 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport Raytheon Park • Bluff City TN

www.theloaferonline.com

Directory The Peerless 2531N. Roan St. Johnson City • 423/282-2351 Salsarita’s 200 Linden Square Bristol VA 276/ 591-1260

Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014 SW VA Museum Historical State Park Big Stone Gap VA

May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 17

Caroline Rose | Thursday, May 21 at the Abingdon Market Pavilion

With the release of her new album I Will Not Be Afraid, keen-eyed young singer-songwriter Caroline Rose has a sound that draws on her roots in rockabilly, vintage country and blues to capture her unique and personal vision. Fresh off tour with Shovels & Rope and Pokey LaFarge, Caroline Rose is thrilling audiences all over the nation. A driving snare drum with brushes and psychedelic folk fiddle underpin the cool waterfall of her peaches and molasses voice as she sings about the open skies and the storm clouds inside the American heart.

Tavern @ Ridgfields 2320 Pendragon Road Kingsport 423/ 765-0031

Triple B Brewery 935 Wilcox Ct. #105 Kingsport 423/963-3609 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City • 423/979-6400

Red Sammy | Wednesday, May 20 | Acoustic Coffeehouse Independent songwriter, Red Sammy, from Baltimore, MD embarks on DIY spring road trip presenting his own brand of downtrodden Americana music.

Songs about life, work, hard work, love & loss, disappointment are all themes within the songs.

“Red Sammy’s bluessoaked Americana is simultaneously sparse and powerful, direct and convincing,” – Baltimore Magazine, 2013 If you like your singing gritty, your tunes roughly hewn from country blues and your poetry sharp and to the point, this is just for you,” Americana UK 2013

Page 18, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

Simple Foil Prints Foil prints are very beautiful for home decoration. Because of the rise in popularity of gallery walls, foil prints are showing up everywhere.

These reflective words and images can be hung among clusters of frames, canvas, and mirrors.

They add a major shine element to any dull room and will stand out among your other artwork.

But these stunning pieces of décor don’t come cheap. Prints can cost anywhere from $15.00 to over $100 depending upon the size and

frame.

Like most people, I have little extra money laying around for a home makeover. I also don’t like to pour money down the drain every time a new trend rolls around.

Many thrifty, crafty people have learned to create these prints for themselves. Their methods include double sided adhesive paper, laminators, and laser printers.

I don’t have and can’t afford some of those crafting tools. So, I came up with a similar method that was a little more time con-

suming, but I hoped would create a beautiful and cheap foil print for my home.

First, I decided upon a quote that I wanted on my wall: Let it be.

I used a letter template to trace out the quote on a piece of cardstock.

I cut out these letters and traced the quote again on another piece of cardstock.

After tracing the letters, I used a small paintbrush to paint a light layer of Tacky Glue in the outline one letter at a time. Make sure to cover the outline with glue as well.

Because the glue dries quickly, it’s easiest to place small strips of foil over each letter individually. The foil I used was just cheap tin foil from the grocery store. They even sell gold foil if you prefer a gold print.

When each letter is covered in foil, leave the glue to dry. The foil slows down the drying process. I left my print to dry over night but it probably only takes an hour or two. You can check to see if the glue is dry by pulling the foil lightly. Too much movement means it’s still too wet.

After the glue is dry, it’s time to start carving out your letters. This is the hardest, most frustrating

part. In order to create the cleanest lines, I folded my foil in places that I knew created straight lines, like the “I.” Then, I used a knife to cut across the folded line. For better results you can use an X-Acto knife.

Folding the foil created nice results for most of the letters but a “B” has only one straight line. So, I used the letters that I cut out before to help guide me as I cut.

Even so, I made a few mistakes cutting out the two holes in the “B.” You can see in the photos how lopsided they are. But I don’t believe this is visible when the print is hanging on the wall in a nice, simple frame.

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 19

19th Annual Garden Gala set for May 23

Flower lovers from across the region will venture to Jonesborough for the 19th Annual Garden Gala on Sat., May 23. This year’s theme and seminars include The Art of Bonsai and Fairy Gardens & Terrariums.

This day-long charity event is hosted and supported by volunteers from the Tuesday Garden Club, Schubert Club, Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners and the Southern Appalachian Plant Society. The Annual Garden Gala is considered the official welcoming of Spring and Summer in Tennessee’s Oldest Town.

Featured seminar lecturers include bonsai expert Warren Hill and fun with fairy gardens and terrariums with Shawn Barr. The seminars will take place at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. at the Jonesborough Visitors Center.

Warren Hill will conduct a lecture on bonsai arrangements and maintenance. Hill was first introduced to bonsai in 1960 while living in Los Angeles. After his first

exposure to the unique plant, Hill went on to study the rich Japanese culture that spawned this unique art form. His formal bonsai studies and training has been with a wide variety of Japanese teachers, including such notables as John Yoshio Naka and Saburo Kato.

Warren Hill’s School of Bonsai is located in Greeneville, Tenn. and thought out the nation.

Shawn Barr will conduct a lecture entitled “Always Leave Room for Fairies to Dance: The Complementary Fun of Fairy Gardens and Terrariums.” Barr has been fascinated with the creation of terrariums and fairy gardens since he tried to figure out how to get Maidenhair Fern to thrive inside his house. As the Greenhouse Perennial Manager at Evergreen Nursery in Johnson City, Barr has utilized his talents to creatively assemble magical indoor gardens by offering seminars across the region for seven years. He has received his Master Gardener certification from Virginia Tech and holds a

degree in horticulture from Surry Community College. Guests are encouraged to bring their own appropriate container as Barr guides the process of creating a fairy garden.

Tickets to the seminars will only be available at the door on the day of the event. Tickets are $10 for one seminar and $15 for both seminars.

Popular Garden Gala vendors will be located on the International Storytelling Center Plaza. For those not attending the morning seminar, the Garden Marketplace is free and open to the public beginning at 9 a.m.

The self-guided walking tours begin at 12:30 p.m. featuring ten gardens. Artists and garden experts will also be at each location to answer questions. The tea will begin at 2 p.m. at a select location.

Tours will conclude at 5 p.m. Shuttles will be available to transport guests as needed.

Tickets for the garden tours and tea only are $12 in advance

and $15 on the day of the event.

Garden tour and tea tickets may be purchased online at jonesboroughtn.org, at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center by calling

Photo by Sharon Stone, Tree Top Studio

423-753-1010 or from a Schubert Club or Garden Club member. For additional information about the 19th Annual Garden Gala, visit jonesboroughtngardenclub.com.

Page 20, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

Galaxies Galore Unseen in Spring Nights “Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup, they slither wildly as they slip away across the Universe.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eye, they call me on and on across the Universe.”

Across the Universe, The Beatles

Scattered around the night Spring skies just beyond the reach of human vision are hundreds of thousands of galaxies each with billions of stars just like our own Milky Way. Unlike any other time of the year, the large and rather faint constellations of Spring are filled with hidden celestial treasures that are far beyond our own Galaxy.

Our spaceship Earth is looking away from the stars of our Milky Way Galaxy and out into the depths of the Universe. From this point in our solar orbit the night sky is relatively free of stars compared to other times of the year.

And what we see is amazing.

Across the Universe are millions of galaxies, many in gigantic clusters of unfathomable size. The naked

eye doesn’t see them, but they are there. Billions up billions of stars that probably have hundreds of billions of planets in orbit.

Backyard telescopes see them as “faint fuzzy” shapes that are among what amateur astronomers call “Deep Sky Objects.” Than photography reveals individual stars in nearby galaxies and their true nature. The Space Age brought the incredible images of galactic details in all shapes and sizes depending on our angle of view. And there are many galaxies interacting in collisions and signs where some have been torn apart by the gravitational forces.

Some of the most iconic images taken by the 25-year-old Hubble Space Telescope are the Deep Space Images that reveal thousands of

galaxies billions of Light Years away in a tiny part of the sky.

The galaxies of Spring are among the gems of the celestial scavenger hunt that amateur astronomers love to play. Looking like faint fuzzy shapes of cigars, ovals and irregular pinwheels, more than 100 can be seen in simple backyard telescopes.

Many dozens can be seen even as faint patches with binoculars. The bigger the telescope the more detail is revealed. And then there are the astrophotographers who find the challenge of galaxy photography very rewarding. Today amateur astronomers are taking amazing images with new generation digital cameras and precise sky tracking mounts.

The easiest to find galaxies have an “M” designation and some even have names resembling their appearance, like M-101 the Whirlpool Galaxy in Ursa Major.

A French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th Century catalogued all the fuzzy objects he found that didn’t move as he searched for comets. The Messier Catalog contains 110 objects, from the star cluster The Pleiades to the Great Orion Nebula. Other “deep sky objects” have a number designation that begins with NGC for New General Catalog that was begun in the 20th Century and contains more than 8,000 objects.

Let’s look at a few classic “Messier” objects that are in tonight’s sky within the boundaries of Leo, Virgo and Ursa Major.

Three galaxies are in the belly of Leo the Lion, between the backward question mark dotted by bright star Regulus and the right triangle of three stars that make

up the lion’s rear. Spiral galaxies M-95, M-96 and M-105 are can be seen together in a low power (80x or so) in a backyard telescope.

They are 22 million Light Years away, meaning the light we see tonight left these galaxies 22 million years ago to fall on our eyes or camera.

In Leo below the bottom star of the right triangle are three more close together spiral galaxies, M-65, M-66 and seen edge on is NGC 3628. They are barely visible in binoculars like grey smudges on very clear, moonless nights.

Ursa Major with the Big Dipper as its hindquarters fills the north skies. And to look there is to literally look away from our Milky Galaxy and into the cosmos. And there are thousands upon thousands of galaxies each made up of hundreds billions of stars.

One of the most spectacular galaxies in Ursa Major is above the middle star bend of the handle, M-101 the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Looking through a modest backyard telescope the pinwheel shape, or a whirling pool of stars, is quite evident.

Hard to find in the faint stars above the bear’s head are M-81, another beautiful spiral, and M-82, seen edge-on and looking like a cigar.

It is in Ursa Major that the orbiting Hubble Telescope has taken what is now an iconic image of a thousand galaxies with the small area our Moon occupies in the sky.

Called the “Deep Field Images,” they allow astronomers to look back in time several billon years.

Virgo the Virgin is another constellation filled with galaxies. The maiden is sprawling across the sky in the south, marked only by the bright, white star Spica. Astronomers call Virgo the “Realm of the Galaxies” as there are tens of thousands, including 3,000 in a concentrated area called the Virgo Galaxy Cluster that is 65 million Light Years away. M-49 and M-60 are part of this cluster and can be seen in small telescopes. Also in Virgo is the popular “Sombrero Galaxy,” M-104, named for it resemblance to the Mexican hat.

Finally, above Virgo are six Messier Objects that are found in the tiny and indistinct constellation Coma Berenices, which is named for Queen Berenices of Egypt.

M-53 is a globular cluster ball of hundreds of thousands of stars, but

the others are galaxies whose starlight we see left when dinosaurs roamed Earth 65-100 million years ago. M-85, M-88, M-99 and M-100 can be found, along with classic, edge-on galaxy NGC 4565, missed by astronomer Messier because of its slender shape.

Two other members of the Coma Berenices galaxy group is the famous Black Eye Galaxy, M-64, and M-87, an elliptical galaxy shooting out a long jet of hot gas.

Many of these springtime galaxies are larger than our 200,000 Light Year wide Milky Way, which has an estimated 200 billion stars and probably ten times that in planets. So just imagine all these thousands of galaxies we see from our porthole in the night sky. And the billions upon billions of stars and possible trillions and trillions of planets.

These numbers stack pretty much in favor of millions of extraterrestrial planets in what is called the “Goldilocks Zone” where it’s not too close or too far away from its parent star. A place in space that is just right for the conditions to evolve into carbon-based life. Like on Earth in our Sun’s system that is located in a swirling, gigantic arm of our barred spiral home, the Milky Way. And that is something to think about when stargazing and envisioning what is beyond our human vision. Try it tonight!

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 21

Celestial events in the skies for the week of May 19 - May 25, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

May is a gorgeous month, filled with the Northern Hemisphere of Earth coming alive and outdoor activities in full swing. And if we are to find any aliens alive and well in our Universe, they might be among the thousands of galaxies that are in the Spring night skies.

They are invisible to our eyes, but look like beautiful sculptures of stellar evolution in the photographs from the great telescopes of the world. Leo, Virgo and Ursa Major are filled with galaxies as we look out across the Universe.

The crescent Moon dances across the early evening, near Venus on Thursday and Jupiter on Sunday.

Tues. May 19

Two Space Shuttles were launched on this date: Endeavour in 1996 and Atlantis in 2000. The six astronauts on Endeavour spent 10 days in Space Hab in the cargo bay doing experiments on commercial space applications. Atlantis (with a new computerized “glass cockpit”) and seven astronauts docked at the International Space Station with lots of construction supplies like batteries, handrails, docking mechanisms and miles of electrical cables.

Wed. May 20

At darkness around 9 pm Venus is unmistakable high in the western sky, and Jupiter is overhead leading the backward question mark of Leo the Lion. Rising around sunset in the southeast is Saturn, soon to be the eye-catching sight of summertime in the constellation Scorpius.

Thurs. May 21

Corralling those bears around the night sky is an ancient herdsman named Bootes. Follow the handle of the Big Dipper to the bright star, Arcturus, which anchors the base of Bootes—which looks like a giant ice cream cone or flying kite. Bootes is in ancient constellation, envisioned at least 2,000 years ago. Pronounced “Boo-OHtez” in some circles, who names their kid this these days?

Fri. May 22

On this 1969 date in space his-

tory, astronauts Gene Cernan, 81, and John Stafford, 81, flew their Apollo 10 moonship to within 10 miles of Mare Tranquility in a full dress rehearsal of a Moon landing. Two months later, Apollo 11 landed at the spot scouted out by the NASA mission 46 years ago this week.

orbits of John Glenn the previous February. Carpenter wasted a lot of valuable fuel maneuvering the Mercury capsule in what NASA called “sight-seeing.” As a result, he landed 250 miles off course in the Atlantic Ocean, taking 45 minutes to find in his life raft next to his Mercury capsule. Carpenter never flew in space again, but Sat. May 23 The Big Dipper is pouring its ce- in 1965, for Sealab II, he spent 28 lestial contents over the north ho- days living on the ocean floor off rizon, pointing to the North Pole the coast of California. star Polaris. It’s at the end of the Mon. May 25 First Quarter Moon is today. handle of the Little Dipper—both dippers being star “asterisms” of On this date in 2008, NASA’s the much larger constellations of spacecraft Phoenix landed on the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the North Pole, right on top of ice just big and little bears. inches beneath the red soil. Phoenix wasn’t mobile, and completed Sun. May 24 On this 1962 date in space histo- its successful 90-day mission with ry, Scott Carpenter, deceased, be- discoveries of dry ice melting in came the second American to orbit front of its cameras and snow fallthe Earth, duplicating the three ing high up in the atmosphere.

Page 22, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

100 Songs, Part One

If you missed last week’s column, I mentioned that I was recently asked to make a series of lists about the 100 songs, movies, and TV Episodes I feel everyone should see before they die. Over the course of the next year, I’ll be sharing these lists with you once a month in this column. This week I look at the first 25 songs from my list of 100. The full list is up for your viewing on my blog (heythereandy.blogspot.com), and you can hear most of it via a Spotify playlist called “100 Songs.” These songs are not ranked in any particular order, they are presented as none being better than the other.

“Walk On By” by Dionne Warwick: Burt Bacharach and Hal David are two of the giants of American songwriting. They have a place right up there with the best of the best of American writers.

I’d go as far as to say they’re the Gershwins of the rock and roll era.

“Walk On By” is quintessential Bacharach and David, everything that makes them so lauded can be found in this song. The arrangement, the sound of the record, it’s all here.

“My World Fell Down”

By Sagittarius: If someone played this for you with no context, you’d think it was a “Good Vibrations” era Beach Boys outtake. There’s good reason why you’d think that, Sagittarius wasn’t an actual band, it was a studio group put together by producer Gary Usher (who co-wrote a few songs with Brian Wilson, including “In My Room). The group was backed by The Wrecking Crew, and featured Terry Melcher, actual Beach Boy Bruce Johnston, and a lead vocal

performed by—wait for it—Glenn Campbell (who was actually in The Beach Boys for about five minutes). The song charted at a respectful #70 when it was released in 1967, but it went on to later acclaim as part of Lenny Kaye’s legendary “Nuggets” compilation.

genre’s giants. Picked personally

by John Coltrane, the duo’s “John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman” is a damn fine record. The highlight of the album is their brilliantly perfect take on the mournful “Lush Life.”

“Good Golly, Miss Molly” by Little Richard, “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry, “Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley, “Rave On”

by Buddy Holly: I lumped these four songs with each other for good reason. Collectively, they represent the back bone of Rock and Roll. The Bo Diddley riff, the driving guitar of Chuck Berry, Little Richards booming voice, and

“The Boulevard of Bro- the sound of Buddy Holly. They’ve ken Dreams” by Tony Bennett: endured for nearly 60 years, and I This is one of my favorite of Tony suspect they’ll endure for 60 more.

Bennett’s early recordings. Particularly fond of it’s noir guitar open- “Rumble” by Link Wray: ing, and pulsing Latin rhythm. It’s One of the few instrumental songs a tune that isn’t as widely known, to ever be banned from the radio— to my knowledge, as some of Ben- due to the fear it would cause juvenett’s other tunes, but one I find nile delinquency—“Rumble” is it. hard to resist.

Raw, rough, and gritty, in the 2:25

“One For My Baby (And that “Rumble” lasts you can hear One More For The Road)” By the coming of punk and grunge.

Frank Sinatra: My absolute favor- It must have scared the hell out of ite Frank Sinatra recording, the parents in 1958. version off his “Only The Lonely” album. A perfect marriage be- “I’m a Fool To Want You” tween vocalist and a great Johnny by Billie Holiday: The opening to Mercer lyric. track to Billie Holiday’s penultimate album, “I’m a Fool To Want

“Lush Life” by John Col- You” has Lady Day’s voice at it’s trane & Johnny Hartman: Johnny absolute roughest. Listening to the Hartman is one of the most un- playback after recording the song, der appreciated Jazz singers of all Holiday reportedly began to cry. time. Despite being lauded in the It is one of the most emotionally press by the likes of Ella Fitzger- raw pieces of music ever recored, ald, he never did mange to crack with almost every breath of voice into the mainstream. However, steeped in years of pain. part of Hartman’s legacy is that he 100 Songs .... recored one of the finest albums in Jazz history with one of the Continued on next page

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys: One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever created, from the amazing “Pet Sounds” album. It is such a perfect song, one that often moves me to tears. It’s a song I want played at my funeral, as weird as they may sound, because I love it so much.

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 23

100 Songs .... Continued from previous page

“What’d I Say” By Ray Charles: Ray Charles was one of the driving forces of American music in the 1950s and 1960s.

Charles can almost be seen as the bridge between Jazz to Rock & Soul. You can hear traces of all three in this recording. If you aren’t into by the time he starts the gospel call and response with his backup singers, then you’re just not going to get it.

“Waterloo Sunset” by The Kinks: I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t love The Kinks. I almost went with the obvious “You Really Got Me.” However, that infection opening riff of “Waterloo Sunset” is too hard to resist. One of Ray Davies finest moments as a songwriter.

love this band, which was very clear on Facebook as I geeked out hard over their new album that came out this year after a nearly decade hiatus. “Dig Me Out” is a song that I listen to when I feel angry. Not to say I’m always angry when I listen to it, but when I desperately need to feel something to vent, this is the song I play.

“Superfly” by Curtis Mayfield: I can’t recall when I first heard “Superfly.” I know I would have had to been maybe 12, and I know it was on TV somewhere. VH-1 sticks out in my mind for some reason.

When I heard it though, I had the reaction of “I don’t know what this is, but this sounds amazing.” It still has that effect on me.

“Don’t Forget Me” By Harry Nilsson: The world genius gets used a lot, but in the case of Harry Nilsson, it’s completely accurate. Nilsson was one of the finest singer-songwriters to have ever walked this Earth. His music, full of wit and humor and brilliant turns of phrase, was matched by a voice that—in its prime—was simply unsurpassed. “Don’t Forget Me” is the best song Nilsson ever wrote, it’s also his most heartbreaking, written to his ex wife after their divorce. Rarely do I listen to the song without crying, loosing it by the time he sings “And when we’re older and full of cancer/it doesn’t matter now/come on get happy/‘cause nothing lasts forever/but I will always love you.”

“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones: I love The Ramones, I think they’re the best rock band America ever had. Like some of the other songs on this list, time has not tarnished the excited energy of “Blitzkrieg Bop.” A song that launched a 1000 ships.

“Theme From Shaft” by Isaac Hayes: To be frank, my dear readers, it’s one the most badass pieces of music ever created.

Can you dig it?

“You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore: I was rather sad when Lesley Gore passed earlier this year, I’ve always thought she was a little underrated as a singer. If anything, beyond her breakout of “It’s My Party,” she’s responsible for one of the first feminist anthems.

“Peaches en Regalia” by Frank Zappa: My favorite Zappa instrumental, off his Jazz fusion album “Hot Rats.” It’s a little bit of everything Zappa had to offer in one song.

“Psycho” by The Sonics: The Sonics are the kings of garage rock. Their raw, bang it out and make the meter go red style of recording was a precursor to punk. I was with a friend at his house the first time I heard this song, and I freaked. I made him play it over so many times he finally sent me home with the CD. The earth shaking screech of Gerry Roslie’s screaming voice is something to behold. Oh, and they made the best version of “Louie, Louie.”

“Peter Gunn” By Henry Mancini: When I was a senior in high school, I had a group of music obsessed friends, each day bringing new discoveries by one of us to the group. There was the one who told us about The Velvet Underground, the one who told us about Joe Jackson, and so on. But I had the pleasure of being the one who told everyone about Henry Mancini. Mancini may not have fit in our alt rock loving ways, but thanks to tracks like this and his “Pink Panther Theme,” we all quickly became fans of his brand of hip pop.

“Sweet Jane” By The Velvet Underground: I have no particularly deep reason for picking “Sweet Jane” other than it being perfect, and absolutely loving it.

“Shake Some Action” by The Flaming Groovies: A highly underrated band, I love The Flaming Groovies. “Shake Some Action” is the title track to their best album, and their brand of California rock was just exceptional. They’re worth your time.

There it is, sports fans! The first 25 songs on my list of 100 we’re gonna be looking at. Again, you can find the list as a playlist on Spotify by searching or “100 Songs,” or by my amazingly clever username “LeWriterBoy.” Boy howdy, wake the kids and phone the neighbors over that. See you next “Dig Me Out” By Sleater-Kinney: I week.

Page 24, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

In Theaters Now

Box Office Top 10 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)

“Hot Pursuit” Reese Witherspoon is cute and funny. Sofia Vergara is cute and loud. One would imagine the combination of the two would lead to a wonderful comedy. Well, in the new film “Hot Pursuit”, featuring the two stars, we are simply left with what could have been. The film features Witherspoon as Rose Cooper, a police officer, who even though her father was well respected cop, doesn’t have the same respect. Rose works in the department that stores and logs crime evidence, until she is assigned to watch over Daniella Riva (Vergara), the wife of a drug lord, who will be testifying against a drug cartel. When Rose and Daniella meet up at the Riva home, they mix like oil and water. Normally this type of mismatch makes for a great comedy duo, but in this case the script sabotages the actors. The storyline has the two on the run from the cartel in question, and eventually Rose’s own police department. The mishaps the two experience are mildly amusing, but never provided a “laugh out loud” moment.

The labored script allows the two to literally stumble about, as they attempt to flee while seeking justice for the false accusations against them. The story also allows for a bit of romance for Rose, in the form of “True Blood” veteran Robert Kazinsky, an English actor who obviously struggles with an American accent in this film. His limited time with Reese allows for limited chemistry to develop between the two, and if given a bit more screen time together, the film may have improved. However, when you have the presence of Vergara, its often hard to overcome the “Modern Family” stars

When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

After six years of keeping our malls safe, Paul Blart has earned a well-deserved vacation. He heads to Vegas with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. But safety never takes a holiday and when duty calls, Blart answers.

Hot Pursuit (2015)

Home (2015)

The Age of Adaline (2015)

Woman in Gold (2015)

An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.

A young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.

Ex Machina (2015)

A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

Furious Seven (2015)

Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother.

Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.

Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.

Unfriended (2014)

A group of online chat room friends find themselves haunted by a mysterious, supernatural force using the account of their dead friend.

The Longest Ride (2015)

After an automobile crash, the lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man, as he reflects back on a past love.

Source: IMDb.com • (5/16/15)

overwhelming tendencies. In this film, Vergara is basically playing a version of her television character, but comes off far more obnoxious than she does on her show, and a bit less screaming from her would have helped. On the other hand, the Rose character is so “by the books” and quiet, Reese is almost lost in her own film. While Reese and Sofia certainly make for an in-

teresting duo, the two would have benefited from a strong script. Instead we have a film that comes off like a mediocre television comedy.

Despite all the best efforts of all involved, movie fans are left in “Hot Pursuit” of a comedy.

Rated: PG-13

C+

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 25

“Pete’s Posse” & “Toss the Possum” highlight

Memorial Day Weekend Contra Dances in Jonesborough!

The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will host the next Contra Dance of the season on Saturday May 23, 2015 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street at 7:30 PM. The featured band is “Pete’s Posse” from Vermont. Susan Michaels and Diane Silver will share the calling. Admission is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. A special family package for members is now offered for a total of $15. Parents and all of their own children under age 18 can gain admission for one price.

Pete’s Posse is composed of Pete Sutherland (fiddle, piano, banjo and vocals), Oliver Scanlon (fiddle, mandolin, Dobro, foot percussion and vocals) and Tristan Henderson (guitars, mandolin, jaw harp, bodhran, foot percussion and vocals).

Twin fiddles in tight, wild harmony over hi-powered guitar and pounding footwork with mando-

lin, claw hammer banjo, jaw harp and rocking keyboards adding their voices to the mix. Old songs and tunes, lyrical and driving, alongside brand new ones. That’s the multi-generational heart and mind of PETE’S POSSE, at work and at play.

Joining Pete’s Posse on Sunday May 24th is Toss the Possum from Blacksburg, VA for a 12-hour Contrathon dance at the Pavilion at Serenity Knoll in Jonesborough. This event requires pre-registration and is SOLD OUT! The name Toss the Possum was inspired by a possum who found itself trapped under a spare dresser drawer in the garage of the Zisette family. This family band originally consisted of Chas on bass, Jane on flute, Rob on fiddle and Laura (mom) on keyboard.

Nowadays, Rob and Laura carry on as the kids grew up and moved away.

Toss the Possum music style is

eclectic - both lyrical and a driving, energetic style that includes Celtic, Appalachian, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Original Tunes, Vocals, and some Looping Madness! Toss the

Possum will also play for an afternoon waltz at Serenity Knoll on Saturday afternoon from 3:00pm5:00pm. Admission $5.

For more information, contact

David Wiley at 423-534-8879, or email to david@historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org. Also visit the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.

Page 26, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

Watchin’ the Tide Roll Away It can be said that the San Francisco Bay Area is defined by the waters that permeate it. Heck, it’s even in the region’s name! From the Golden Gate, past the port of Oakland, south to San Jose, north to the Napa Valley and wine country, and east as far as Stock-

ton (which is the furthest inland natural harbor in the world), the San Francisco Bay is truly vast.

As such, the bay is comprised of a plethora of interesting and complex features such as river deltas, coves, and channels which are made all the more complicated by

the various microclimates in the area. It’s home to all sorts of marine wildlife due to different levels of water salinity dependent on where you happen to be.

In order to gain a better understanding of the bay’s complex geography, the Army Corps of Engineers has constructed a large model of it to help researchers better understand local phenomena such as the currents, the ecology, and the effects that humans have had on both. In addition to a very accurate representation of the

physical landscape, the model includes water flowing in simulated currents and even tides operating in 14 minute cycles.

The Bay Model itself is enormous and very comprehensive, taking up 1.5 acres within a visitors’ center in Sausalito, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Built in 1957 and renovated in 2012, it has been used by hydrologists to better understand how the bay functions as an independent ecosystem and how it might be affected by human intervention. It has been studied to measure potential effects of proposed dams, levee failure, and the dredging of shipping channels.

The Bay Model even appeared on an episode of Mythbusters as the hosts explored the feasibility of trying to escape from Alcatraz.

Nowadays, even though advanced computer simulations can do a fairly comparable job of replicating the bay and estimating potential scenarios, the model is still used for scientific purposes and as an educational tool. Tours can be self-guided and include several other exhibits about the bay and its fragile environment that seems constantly under threat. Larger groups can arrange for tours led by park rangers. Admittance, parking, and even guided tours are all free of charge. Whether you are interested in just seeing an amazingly exhaustive model or learning more about the science behind it, a visit to the Bay Model is a fascinating experience. All that’s missing is a miniature Otis Redding.

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 27

Storyteller Reminisces About His Feral Childhood

Renowned performer Andy Offutt Irwin will serve as the next teller in residence for the International Storytelling Center’s renowned Storytelling Live! series.

Taking the stage in the Center’s theater in downtown Jonesborough, Irwin will offer concerts daily at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, May 26 – 30. Tickets for all shows are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18.

Some of Irwin’s favorite stories are about what he refers to as his “feral childhood,” a time in history when kids had ample opportunity to roam free of parental supervision and safety concerns.

“The period of the feral child followed what I call agrarian culture, which is when kids worked on the farm for three months of the year,” he jokes. In the short period before the era of camps (band camp, art camp, church camp, etc.), feral kids like Irwin enjoyed the special sort of freedom of a kid who has nothing to do.

“People my age talk about exploring creeks and playing outside, but we also had the Mattel Thingmaker,” says Irwin. “It was a 350-degree hotplate that we plugged into the wall. It involved pouring polyvinyl chloride into lead molds, and it was crazy dangerous.” The storyteller sounds almost wistful remembering these close encounters with grave bodily harm.

“From Harper Lee to Lily Tomlin to Donald Davis, any story about childhood is only going to be interesting when the parents aren’t around,” he observes.

In addition to his matinee performances, Irwin will host a special children’s concert on Saturday, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets for the Saturday morning concert are only $5 for all ages, and ticket holders will receive coupons for 15 percent off at The Lollipop Shop, a popular Main Street store that sells old-fashioned sweets and toys.

Irwin’s personal stories often revolve around aspects of childhood that seems strange when you really start to think about them, including the curious cultural cus-

tom of kids selling old teeth to a fairy that sneaks money beneath their pillows in the middle of the night.

In addition to tales of his feral childhood, Irwin plans to share new stories about his fictitious (and beloved) octogenarian aunt, Marguerite Van Camp.

“The Teller-in-Residence program is always a mix of old and new,” Irwin says. “I love the intimate venue and the invested audience. I sell out my shows, which is fun. And I like hanging out in Jonesborough for a while—you know, riding a bike and visiting with folks. It’s pretty sweet.”

Advance purchase for all ISC events is highly recommended.

Ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. Season passes that offer nearly half off the price of regular

admission are also available while supplies last.

Information about all TIR performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2015, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. Storytelling Live! is supported by program sponsors CrestPoint Health, Eastman Chemical Company and Eastman Credit Union, and media sponsors News 5-WCYB, FOX TriCities, Tri-Cities CW, Johnson City Press, Kingsport Times-News, Herald & Tribune, Cumulus Media and Foster Signs. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the Niswonger Foundation.

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.

Page 28, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 29

Rescuing Your Gun

Continuing our train of thought from last week when we discussed gun cleaning, what if you gun is already rusty? Well let me tell you a quick story. When I was 20 my brother and I each bought a used Norinco SKS rifle from my cousin. As a bonus he threw in 1000 rounds of ammunition. “Be careful” he warned “That’s corrosive ammo”. My brother and I took our SKS rifles into the field and shot about 300 rounds each. That night we cleaned them, and as a confession let me just tell you I take cleaning my guns very seriously, it’s a point of pride. So I was very upset with what happened next.

That night after we cleaned our guns we put them away, I used a gun rack while my brother put his in the corner of the closet. About a month later I noticed some surface rust on the barrel, “Uh Oh” I thought, I figured I just forgot to wipe the gun down, and then to my genuine horror I opened the slide. There was more rust than not…it was my worst nightmare.

I was racking my brain trying to think of what I did wrong. I went in my brother’s room and looked at his rife, it was worse than mine.

I had never encountered this before, so I called every old-timer I knew to see if there was anything I could do. Nobody had an answer for me. I sat there, my rusty rifle in hand, and then I noticed the can of WD-40 sticking out of my tool box. Out of sheer desperation I soaked mine and my brothers rifles in WD-40, wrapped them each in an old t-shirt and put them in the closet. I told my brother about it when he got home. I knew that metal really needed to soak up that WD-40 so I left them in there for a month. After a month we took the rifles down and unwrapped them.

I could not believe my eyes. There was no rust anywhere on them.

We wiped them down and they looked brand new.

Now this was an extreme case of rust caused by corrosive ammo, but many people have older guns with surface rust. And the answer is the same, put a generous coat of regular WD-40 and wrap it in something 100% cotton, put it in the closet and forget about it for 2 weeks to a month depending on how bad the rust is. Be certain to use regular WD-40 not the Teflon or graphite kind. If you have

2015 Celebrity Concert Series at Country Tonite Theatre

made the mistake of using corrosive ammo and it seems like your gun is ruined, give this a shot, it can’t make it any worse. I have told friends and colleagues about this and they’ve tried it on their own guns, and they always come back and tell me they can’t believe it worked. I hope you found this article informative, and as always if you have any questions or want to give me feedback, please feel free to email me, I look forward to hearing from you.

The 2015 Celebrity Concert Series at Country Tonite Theatre begins Saturday, May 23rd with The Oak Ridge Boys. They will kick of the season by performing two big shows at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

The concert series goes through December 5th and includes performances by some of the best entertainers in country music. The concert on December 5th is a stop on Ronnie Milsap’s Farewell Tour.

For tickets call Country Tonite Theatre at 865-453-2003. For complete concert schedule please visit www.firstclassconcerts.com

Page 30, The Loafer • May 19, 2015

It’s Only Words My grammatically incorrect title this week comes from the grammatically incorrect song, “Words,” as sung by the Bee Gees in 1968.

You know, the sappy and largely incoherent ballad that repeats way too many times the phrase, “It’s only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away.”

We can only wonder if this song by the Brothers Gibb would have been as big a hit if they had written, “They’re only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away.” Or at least they could have been consistent by stating, “It’s only words, and words is all I have. . . .”

In any event, the Bee Gees are my inspiration for once again visiting Dictionary.com to take a look at new words that have been added to an ever-growing list of definitions that define our place in time. In so many ways, words are really all we have, not only to take our hearts away (not a pretty thought in itself), but also to define who we are. So, let’s take a look at the latest batch of culturedefining words. I’ll let you decide if they are capable of taking your heart away.

As you might expect, the usual suspects are on the list, including “smartwatch,” “haptics” (a term closely associated with smartwatches and other mobile devices, along with “gesture,” the all-toofamiliar finger movement we use to summon up various digital commands), and “black hat,” a nefarious hacker who creates havoc, and the title of a recent movie about one such character. And, reflective of our increasing gender consciousness, we see terms like “agender,” “gender-fluid,” and “bigender” appearing on the

list. Another term that I am seeing more and more is “lifehack,” which refers to a tip or strategy for personal management; ironically, in their attempts to simplify our lives, lifehacks are instead adding more layers of annoyance to our already overburdened existence. I don’t relish the idea of my life being hacked, and I certainly don’t want to hack anyone else’s life.

Isn’t that what Facebook is for?

Several new terms provide a very interesting profile of the way our lives are taking shape. For instance, “crash blossom” defines an old but very interesting byproduct of our media culture. A crash blossom is a headline that can be interpreted in more than one way— take “Missing Woman Remains Found,” for instance (an example from Dictionary.com). We should thank inattentive proofreaders for making our lives more enjoyable when they let gems like this slip through (either unintentionally or intentionally). Another new word

on the list (and one I had never seen) is “hyperlocal,” which is defined as “focused on a very small geographical community, as a neighborhood.” I wonder at what point this “small geographical community” ceases being “hyper” and becomes merely “local”? And when does “local” cease being “local,” transitioning into something more cosmopolitan or even intergalactic?

A very interesting term that has just been added to the 2015 Dictionary.com list, but one that

actually dates back to 2014 (a very long time ago in the world of pop culture), is “ship.” No, we’re not talking about things that move through the water, but an abbreviation of “relationship,” particularly relationships that exist between fictional characters. In the 2014 Oxford Dictionary, “ship” is categorized as a verb and can be used to endorse fictional relationships, as in “I will always ship Sherlock and Molly.” Sounds pretty strange and awkward to me. People who are fond of making these kinds of connections are affectionately referred to as “shippers.” So, the next time you refer to people who happen to be in a ship, make sure you are clear on what you mean, or you might end up like the Titanic. Let’s “ship” Rose and Jack, shall we?

Since we are apparently witnessing an increase in social activism these days, we need a way to describe those who are going about this in a half-hearted way. So, we have a term, “slacktivism” to describe those who are only partially committed. A “slacktivist,” for example, is someone who will sign a petition but won’t march in the streets or show up at a political rally to voice his or her concerns.

Who knows? Maybe future history books will characterize 2015 as “The Age of Slacktivism.”

Our Internet paranoia is fueled by terms like “dark web,” and “dox,” the former being descriptive of “the portion of the Internet that is intentionally hidden from search engines, uses masked IP addresses, and is accessible only with a special web browser,” and the latter describing the publishing or use of private information without consent. If you are under any illusions that privacy still exists, let me recommend your reading a fascinating and disturbing new book, “Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles To Collect Your Data And Control Your World,” by

Bruce Schneier (the subject of a future “Kelly’s Place” column).

During the 1930s and 1940s, the Austrian writer Robert Musil worked on a massive threevolume novel, “The Man Without Qualities,” that remained unfinished at the time of his death.

This tome is now considered one of the great works of modern literature, and its title reminds me of our next word—“Basic.” This is my choice of Word of the Year, although I know by the time this year ends other words will come along to upstage it. Like “ship,” the new definition of “basic” is not what you might think. Coined way back in 2006, but consigned to relative obscurity until now, “Basic,” according to the Urban Dictionary is “an adjective used to describe any person, place, activity involving obscenely obvious behavior, dress, action.” It is also defined as “uncool” and “boring” by internetslang.com. Examples of how this term is used include “I tried to get to know him, but after I spent 10 minutes with him, I realized he was too basic for me to waste time on,” “I cannot deal with basic people. I get so frustrated by their basicness!” and “He’s probably the dumbest person on earth. Too basic to even carry on a semi-intelligent conversation.” So, to borrow Musil’s title, I guess we can say that basic people are devoid of qualities while exhibiting their “obscenely obvious behavior,” whatever that might mean. I fear that I might be judged as way too basic by those who are lucky enough to be non-basic.”

Here’s hoping you will have a non-basic life this week and will ship some meaningful connections in your hyperlocal community.

But please don’t allow your life to be hacked.

See you next week with more words, because it’s all I have.

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May 19, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 31

Page 32, The Loafer • May 19, 2015