The Loafer May 2nd by The Loafer

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

on the cover

Volume 31 • Issue #21 Publisher Luci Tate

Outdoor Life

Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May

Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian Bishop Daniel Worley Jason Worley Langley Shazor Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com adcopy@theloaferonline.com All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/ or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams Let’s Get Social!

columns & reviews

Office Coordinator Amanda Lane

24 Stargazer Marqs Gone Looney Over Moon Songs 25 Skies This Week 26 Batteries Not Included A Double Dose of Demy 28 Pop Life Born In China 31 The Casual Word Monarch 33 Appalachian Wanderers Congaree National Park 34 Mountain Movers Dr. Meaghan Guest Interview 40 Puzzle Page 43 Kelly’s Place Jeff Guinn's America

4 5 7 8 9 10 11 11 13 14 16 16 17 18 21 22 27 30 32 37 38 41 42

your week’s line-up

Advertising Dave Carter Patti Barr Shawn Hale Paul Kavanaugh Julie Noecker April Adams

The Outdoor Season Is Upon Us Going Inside Airsoft Rafting On The Nolichucky & Watauga Rivers Lakeview Marina's Marker '2' Grille's Season Opens Celebrate Springtime in Haynesville The Little Princess @ JRT Boone Lake Marina Sets Opening May Exhibitions & Events @ The Arts Depot Roan Mountain Trail Festival QStock Music Festival Anchor Down Memories @ Sonny's Marina Spring Book Sale Farewell To The Jones Boys Band (Calamity Jones) Jack Hanna Returns Ordinary Elephant On Route to The Acoustic Coffeehouse Spotlight Niswonger Village Opens Cantenus Women's Choir Spring Concert Ed Snodderly's Record Shop Contra Dance in Jonesborough Storyteller Sam Payne Pets Of The Week Things To Do

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

on s a e S r oo d t u O

The

By Paul Kavanaugh

is Upon Us

The Tri Cities is fully and finally into Spring, and the summer outdoor season is raring to go. There are myriad things to do in our wonderful region from golf to boating to exploring. Here are a few tidbits we at The Loafer have come across.

he Tri Cities area is known for its excellent golf; there are courses scattered all around at varying price points. One we discovered is The Golf Club of Bristol, which used to be known as The Cedars. They have a deal going right now where you can play all day – with a cart – for only $20. The course is getting in much better shape. I have played there several times recently and really enjoyed the experience. If mini golf is your speed, Putt Putt in both Kingsport and Bristol offer great family fun. The boating scene is also getting started. Around Boone Lake, Sonny’s is already open and the Marker 2 Grill at Lakeview opened this past weekend with three bands, a trend they will keep up all summer. Boone Lake Marina opens their restaurant and bar Memorial Day weekend. Out Watauga way, The Captain’s Table and Shirley’s are both open on weekends and should soon expand their hours. There are boat sales galore with Boone Lake and Sexton’s Marine featuring Pontoon Boats at attractive prices. In the mood for exploring – maybe with a large dose of excitement? Appalachian Caverns in Blountville has one-hour tours that take you 5 million years into the past. Want more excitement? Try Off the Grid in Elizabethton. They have ATV/UTV Side-bySide rides that go well into the mountains. Their zip lines are the best in the area as well. You may enjoy the rides so much that you want to get your own off-road vehicle. Bristol Golf Carts is the place to visit for a large selection. And for the water adventures, don't miss white water rafting down the Nolichucky, Watauga, New River, Wilson Creek. Wahoo's Adventures offer trips for all ages, including three years old and up. Raft, Canoe, Kayak or Tube, any way you choose. For those of a competitive nature, the area has several venues to get those juices flowing. The Alternative Sport in Blountville is a premier paintball venue. They host groups of all types and have a large selection of paintball equipment. Not in to paint? GSF Airsoft in Piney Flats is the area’s airsoft headquarters. They host weekly events and have the largest pro shop in the region. Airsoft is rapidly gaining in popularity, and as a matter of fact, The Alternative Sport does host the occasional airsoft event too. Probably the most ubiquitous outdoor activity in our region is gardening. It seems like everyone has either a flower or vegetable garden, many folks doing both. The availability of quality plants and flowers is a bonus for our area. From the big box stores to Scott’s Farms to many mom and pop nurseries, the selections are enormous. We found that Torbett’s Plant Farm in Piney Flats has one of the largest and most comprehensive selections available. They are happy to provide advice as well, something I certainly plan to take advantage of to get my thumb greener! Whatever you enjoy doing outdoors, go do it. Hop off the couch, grab the kids and head out to an activity. You’ll be glad you did.

hough your eyes are securely shielded, you can still see the tree leaves swaying and feel the grass mildly swishing about - yet all you can really hear is the wind blowing and your heart beating at your ear drums. Then suddenly - without any warning - RAT-A-TATTAT-TAT!!! A blast fires! But from where? All at once there is commotion, the thudded sound of heavy pounding feet approaching your way. Looking upward, the sky suddenly delivers an immediate splattering of enemy fire which pours down hard on the leaves, debris, and ground before you. Within this heart-pounding and adrenaline filled excitement, you hear your comrade yelling, "Run! We're under attack! We’ve been ambushed!" Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? And this excitement is exactly what playing Airsoft is all about! The thrill of the hunt and the heart pounding 'fear' that comes from being hunted. Airsoft is a sport in which participants eliminate opponents by hitting each other with spherical non-metallic 6mm BBs/Pellets launched via replica firearms called Airsoft guns. Since Airsoft BBs do not mark their target, airsoft relies on an honor system in which it is the duty of the person who has been hit to call themselves “HIT” regardless of whether anyone

saw it happen. It’s played in indoor and outdoor arenas. Combat situations on the battlefield may involve the use of military tactics and role playing to achieve objectives set in each game. It is common for participants to emulate the tactical equipment and accessories used by modern military and police organizations. Airsoft guns originated in Japan during the 1970's - 1980's. Guns were illegal in Japan at the time. However, it was and is perfectly legal to own a replica handgun. This led to the development of a BB gun that fired plastic pellets. The popularity of these guns grew substantially in Japan as they were primarily used for target practice. The popularity was soon exported to the rest of the world, reaching the West in the 1990s. What type of people play Airsoft games? The simple answer - people of all walks of life. They range from the very young to seniors. Many fathers and sons team up to enjoy the sport. There are those that have interests in military history where others are engrossed in police tactics. More men than women play the game although there are many female enthusiasts. In general, those that like to play Airsoft games are individuals looking for an active hobby that involves strategic thinking. The most interesting aspect of the game is that it can sometimes involve role playing. The game could

either recreate classical scenarios from the past or it can even duplicate a scene in a motion picture. The battlefield can be any urban or rural environment that you select. It can be indoors, outdoors or both. And, for those that love to be totally creative, many props can be added to the scene If Airsoft sounds like fun, visit GSF Airsoft in Piney Flats, TN. They offer a safe, family orientated atmosphere with games every Friday and Saturday, and they have an impressive store stocked with Airsoft guns and equipment. If you’ve never played at GSF before, mention this article and they will give you a free game pass! Another spot in the Tri-Cities that hosts some airsoft games is The Alternative Sport. Their main business is Paintball, so they don’t have the equipment available like GSF Airsoft does, but they also host airsoft events. Give them a call to see what’s upcoming. They organize private events as well.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Going Inside Airsoft

It's a hot day, sweat pouring, and you have been patiently waiting.........its deathly quiet………

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

High Adventure Rafting on the NOLICHUCKY RIVER

Best rafting in the region, just north of Asheville, NC, and south of Johnson City, TN.

afting for ages eight and up... Nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, the Nolichucky River Gorge winds through steep-walled canyons and remote thickly-forested mountains. The Nolichucky River is said to be one of the most technical big water runs in the south, demanding the coordinated efforts of the raft “crew” and an experienced guide to negotiate the twists and turns, and the drops and falls of the river. The trip on the Nolichucky is a true wilderness adventure, taking the rafter through the breathtaking rugged beauty of the backwoods of the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forest. The sheer rock walls of the canyon tower 2,800 feet from the base of the river to the pine-

covered peaks of the mountains; a true natural treat for anyone who visits the area. This river drops approximately 66-feet per mile over the rst four miles, creating adrenaline pumping Class III, IV and V rapids. The run can be enjoyed by all but the youngest children. Wahoo’s Adventures has several options available for groups both large and small to experience a run on the Nolichucky. All tours include a buffet lunch with fresh deli meats, peanut butter and jelly, veggies/ fruit, cheeses, and a dessert. For the outdoor adventure you have always desired, without any of the usual headaches of planning an outing, Wahoo’s Adventures makes that dream come true. Licensed and permitted by the U.S. Forest Service.

Family Rafting on the WATAUGA RIVER Oftentimes family and adventure are hardpressed to be found in the same sentence, but not at Wahoo’s Adven- tures. On this quiet and picturesque river, family and adventure go hand-inhand, with programs designed for all ages. Gentle rolling class I and II rapids and one exciting class III complement this serene oat trip through the Tennessee foothills where farms and wildlife dot the landscape surrounding this beautiful river and its ecosystem. The starting point is at the base of the highest TVA dam and proceeds through a cliffsided valley where the water is clear enough to see to the bottom 20 feet below. The trip begins with a

pause at Jump Off Rock, where interested paddlers can climb to the top of an 18-foot cliff and jump to the water below! Don’t worry...jumping is optional. However, if jumping off a cliff is on your bucket list, then Jump Off Rock is a MUST! The Watauga River is ideal for families with small children, as well as the kid in everyone. Wahoo’s is the only rafting company with full-service facilities located right on the river. Guests are welcome to enjoy the grassy beach, picnic shelter and campgrounds, and maybe a little shing if you brought your pole. Don’t miss this fantastic family adventure that will have you going... “WAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Marker '2' Grille opens for 2017 Season

Lakeview Marina’s theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

The Marker ‘2’ Grille at Lakeview Marina opened for the 2017 season on Friday, April 28.

his year’s season promises a great music lineup from bands and musicians such as Acoustifried, Asylum Suite, Ali Randolph and the Outta Luck Band and many, many more. “We are working hard to make sure this season is our best yet,” said Tony Huff, Lakeview Marina’s owner and operator. “We have a gorgeous view overlooking the lake’s main channel, great food and cold drinks. We have lots of great music booked and are looking forward to a really entertaining season.” The restaurant will be open for dinner at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and for lunch and dinner at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Boat slips are available for rental. For more information, please call 323-1054. The restaurant welcomes large parties. To R.S.V.P., please contact Shana Al Hadi, Marker ‘2’ Grille events and communications coordinator, at 480-6742 or via e-mail at shanaalhadi@gmail.com. Lakeview Marina has been a Tri-Cities staple for over 4o years. Perched on the main channel of Boone Lake, the marina offers full service capabilities and specializes in all aspects of boat service including storage, repair and covered boat slip rental. Boats are also available for purchase or can be custom ordered. Marker ‘2’ Grille offers a huge open deck with incredible views, great food and live music. Seating for large parties is available. For more information on Lakeview Marina and Marker ‘2’ Grille, call (423) 323-1054 or follow us on our Facebook page, Marker ‘2’ Grille at Lakeview Marina.

“

The Loafer helps me to be a better social planner for my group of friends to see where we will be spending our weekends hanging out!" Vicki W.

At Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site You are invited to Tipton-Haynes as the site presents a Civil War reenactment on May 6 and 7. The site and camps will be open from 9am till 4pm. A small battle will take place at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday. There will be plenty of fun and interesting things to see and do for every one of all ages. Before the battle, visit the camps of Confederate and Union soldiers. Learn how soldiers would have lived during the war.

lso, discover the rich history of Tipton-Haynes as you examine the site’s eleven historic structures. Join us in the historic home of the Haynes family and enjoy guided tours. Explore the cave and feel it’s cool air on a warm spring day. Want to relax, then stroll along the site’s quarter mile nature trail. Admission for the Springtime in Haynesville Civil War reenactment is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children 12 and under. As always, Members are free! For more information call 423-926-3631 or email tiptonhaynes@ embarqmail.com. Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site is located at 2620 South Roan Street in Johnson City. So come and enjoy the day on May 6 and 7 or both.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Celebrate Springtime in Haynesville

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

The Little Princess Next on the JRT Stage

The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre presents the classic, heartwarming story of The Little Princess, which runs May 12th-28th at the theatre located at 125Â˝ West Main Street in Jonesborough.

oung Sara Crewe would rather stay with her beloved father in India than leave for Miss Minchin's boarding school in grim, bustling London, but she must go since her father is going to sea and she needs to receive an English education. Using her books and her imagination, she is able to quickly win friends and make the best out of every situation. However, when her fate takes a disastrous turn, will her vibrant inner life be enough to sustain her through tragedy and hardship? In this heartfelt, faithful adaptation of the endearing novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, one girl's goodwill and courage show what being a princess truly means. The Little Princess is a family-friendly show directed by Pam Johnson, assisted by Angie Hyche. It is adapted for the stage by Cynthia Mercati. Included in the cast of 27 are Sarah Grace Cook as Sara Crewe, Dominic Peterson as Ram Dass, and Angie Hyche as Miss Minchin. The show is sponsored by Sonia King and Mary B. Martin. Shows will run on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $16 general admission, $14 for students and seniors.Â To purchase tickets, call the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423.753.1010 or go online to www. jonesboroughtheatre.com.

Sets Opening

& Events at The Arts Depot

May Exhibitions

lthough they have been heavily involved in their big Pontoon Sales Event, the good folks at Boone Lake Marina have been hard at work on the season’s opening of the bar and restaurant. It all happens Memorial Day Weekend. The great fish sandwiches and custom burgers are soon to become available! Hours are Thursdays 5 – 9, Fridays 5 – 10, Saturdays 12 – 10 and Sundays 12 – 8. They also want to remind everyone that they offer full boat and marine engine services, including storage. Stop by for a cold beverage and some great food.

Juried Spotlight Gallery: Jeff Gorrell

Landscapes and the Abstract Truth. Expansive Landscapes and emotionally driven abstracts on Yupo. Gorrell was the 2016 winner of the Depot Artists Assoc. award at the Virginia Watercolor Society’s annual show where he is a Signature Member. Exhibit runs through June 10

Members Gallery

Sue Branham, Grundy, VA (Watercolor & Acrylic), Brenda Ratliff, Grundy, VA (Acrylic), Mary Talbott, Big Rock, VA (watercolor& Acrylic), Barbara “Jake: Wilson, Unicoi, TN, (Watercolor). Exhibit runs through June 10

Art Classes

Saturday, May 6th- Journals in a Jiffy with instructor Jennifer Hilton. $60.00 + $5 for materials.10 am- 1 pm. Intro. into the world of Artist’s Books. Create an instant journal, a unique book or impromptu ‘Zines. Pre-registration required. Call for full list of supplies 276-628-9091

FUNDRAISER:

Saturday, May 27th Elegant Elephant Sale: Not your ordinary garage sale! Doors open at 10 am. Find treasures, jewelry, artwork and art supplies, china, silver, antiques & vintage collectables of all sorts. Donations are accepted any Wed. thru Sat. up until the day of the sale on Abingdon’s Plum Alley Day. All events are free and everyone is always welcome. For more information call the Arts Depot 276-628-9091 or visit the website www. abingdonartsdepot.org

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Boone Lake Marina

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

ToShowcaseCommunity

The Roan Mountain community invites all Appalachian Trail enthusiasts to the Roan Mountain Trail Festival on Saturday, May 6.

oan Mountain Appalachian Trail Community Ambassador Jim Chambers believes the event will showcase many positive aspects of the community. “This is a celebration of several community events in Roan Mountain,” Chambers said. “It’s to celebrate Roan Mountain being designated as the 41st Appalachian Trail Community, but also the opening of the Roan Mountain Farmers Market, and the dedication of the new stage at the Roan Mountain Community Park.” The goal of the Roan Mountain Trail Festival is to help create a partnership between the Roan Mountain community, the Appalachian Trail, the local trail maintaining organization —Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club. “My motivation for being involved in the festival is to help highlight the ongoing necessity to preserve the Appalachian Trail,” Chambers said. “The grand take away will hopefully be that the Roan Mountain Community will truly embrace the national treasure that is the Appalachian Trail.” While the event mainly focuses on how to engage the community in stewardship and education, the trail festival is also designed to attract hikers and other travelers interested in the Appalachian Trail. The Roan Mountain Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Board is planning to have live entertainment, a cornhole tournament, disc golf tournament and an AT hiker question and answer panel. Other activities include a scavenger hunt, video booth, gaming tent and a children’s activity. Festivalgoers are encouraged to walk to a local restaurant for food during the event.

Overnight accommodations are available at several Roan Mountain hostels, cabins and bed and breakfasts. The Roan Mountain Community Park will also allow overnight camping on the grounds for $10 per night. Free T-shirts will be available for as long as supply lasts. Admission is free. For more information, find Roan Mountain AT Community on Facebook. For more information about the A.T. Community™ program, visit www.appalachiantrail.org/ atcommunity. More information about the town of Roan Mountain can be found online at www.roanmountain.com.

13 theloaferonline.com | March 28, 2017

Roan Mountain host Trail Festival

Roan Mountain Trail Festival May 6 • 10 a.m. Roan Mountain Community Park, 118 Carter Street, Roan Mountain

Music Festival

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Bud Light, Mellow Mushroom, and The Loafer have teamed with Tri Cities Classic Rock – 101.5 FM WQUT to present the first QStock Music Festival on Saturday, May 27th, at Kingsport Speedway. Opening for Mothers Finest is a perennial regional favorite, Asylum Suite. This band performs a hit list of classic rock with incredible accuracy. They will also be performing songs from their new album “Asylum Suite”.

he show stars legendary rock and funk veterans Mothers Finest. Since forming in 1970, the venerable musical powerhouse has gone on to release 16 albums, five compilations, and one DVD. They have opened for such iconic rock groups as ACDC, Aerosmith, Bad Company and The Who. Their sound is a mix of solid rock and roll with a funky backbeat, and their high energy stage show has made them highly popular on tour in both the U.S. and Europe.

Continued on page 31

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Anchor Down Memories theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

@ Sonny's Marina & Café

Sonny’s Marina & Café is Open and Rockin’ every weekend with the area’s Best Live Entertainment!

onny’s Marina and Café has been serving the Tri Cities since 1952 as a full service marina and recreational facility. Due to the problems at the Boone Dam, our marina no longer offers wet slips but still offers indoor a n d outdoor b o a t storage and boat repair. Our Café o p e n e d for the 2017 season April 14th. The owner Ryta Cornett Courter says it was a great opening weekend! “We want to thank our customers and friends for their continued support. Our customers gave us lots of positive remarks on opening weekend. Many expressed

their gratitude for our continued efforts to remain open even without water. They said it’s still a fun atmosphere! We will continue to serve our customers to the best of our ability until our beautiful Boone Lake returns. We want to be a full service marina again for the future generations to enjoy. With our customers continued support, we feel confident we can accomplish being here for many years to come.” Café hours are Thursday 4-10 Friday 4-11 Saturday 12-11 Sunday 12-8 Sonny’s Café offers reserve seating and party reservations. For more information, PM us on Facebook or call us in advance at 423-282-9440 or 423283-4014. Like us on Facebook, Sonny’s Marina and Café! Also check it out for upcoming bands and events. We upload fun photo’s weekly for you to enjoy your memories of your Sonny’s Café experience. Thanks again for letting us be a part of your summer memories! 109 One Street, Gray, Tn 37615 423-282-9440 or 423-283-4014

Spring Book Sale

eaders of all ages are welcome to come to the Spring Book Sale at Gray Library May 5 and 6. A wide variety of paperback and hardback fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, DVDs, and audiobooks for adults

and children will be available. Hours for the sale will be Friday, May 5, from 9 to 5, and Saturday, May 6, from 9 to 2. The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Library (FOL). For more information, call the library at 477-1550.

AKA Calamity Jones Band

Right around 2001, myself and Jake Jones decided to go from playing on the couch to trying to make a little money. We played acoustic guitar and mandolin, and had hopes to develop a niche playing old time rock and roll and bluegrass with acoustic instruments. We got our first show at NASCAR Café right here in Johnson City. We were basically known as Tim and Jake back then, just trying to have fun and make some money.

ack then, John Jones was playing with a band called “Acousticats.” Instead of simply adding his name to the list and becoming “Jake, John and Tim,” we called ourselves “Acid Grass.” Soon after, we got our first actual bar show at a club called Halo. We didn’t have a demo, or any other promotional material for that matter, but the owner of Halo said we “sounded trustworthy” and gave us a show. Halo soon became headquarters

for us. Soon we began to meet a lot of our friends and fans thanks to Halo. Quickly, we realized that a name like “Acid Grass” would limit us on bookings, so we changed our name to the Jones Boy’s Band. Sonny’s Marina was the first all-aged place that gave us a shot, again, just on our word. We’ve played at Sonny’s for right at fifteen years now, and it has always been one of our favorite service alike. The relationships built at Sonny’s, places to play. Sonny’s has a especially the current owner Ryta Cornett Courter, great atmosphere, with great is the reason we chose to do our farewell and thank-you show at Sonny’s Marina. They have not only supported us wonderfully through the years,

but they’ve become friends of ours. As a three-piece band, we enjoyed the shocking success in the area. About twelve years ago, we decided that we needed to make people dance more, which meant, we needed a drummer. Enter:

Continued on page 19

17 theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Farewell to The Jones Boy’s Band

Written by Kirsten Litz, student of the Fine and Performing Arts Honors College at ETSU

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Jungle Jack Hanna Returns To NPAC with Into the Wild LIVE!

America’s most beloved animal expert, Jack Hanna, returns to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center with his threetime Emmy Award-winning television series Into the Wild LIVE! The sold out show is Sunday, May 7 at 3:00 PM.

n this live show, prepare to be fascinated as Jungle Jack takes you into the wild with a spectacular array of incredible animals. Jack will also share humorous stories and amazing footage from his adventures all around the world from Africa, to the Amazon, to Antarctica and beyond. He will also inspire with his passion and dedication to wildlife conservation. In 2013, Jack celebrated his 35th “Hanna-versary” as Director Emeritus with the Columbus Zoo and Good Morning America celebrated their 30-year relationship with Jack with a series of special segments. In 1993, Jack became the host of Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures, a nationally syndicated television series which ran for over ten years. In October 2007, his current TV series, Jack Hanna's Into the Wild, was born. This unscripted and action-packed series shows Jack and his family as they explore the corners of the globe and discover amazing animals and cultures. Jack Hanna's Into the Wild is the recipient of three Emmy Awards, winning in the category of Outstanding Children's Series.

His second and newest TV show, Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown, airs on Saturday mornings around the country on ABC. Wild Countdown features some of Jack’s favorite experiences with the world's rarest, most endearing, and fascinating animals. You'll even get to see his base camp at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Both television series exist because of Jack’s longstanding partnerships with Nationwide Insurance and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium whom Jack has worked with for decades to protect and spread the word about wildlife conservation. This sold out performance is sponsored by Parker Hannifin. NPAC offers online seat selection with no processing or delivery fees. There is a $1.50 ticketing fee per ticket regardless of purchase method. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM until 5 PM. The 1150 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.

Jones Boys continued from page 17

depending on what I’m singing. You could say, I’m a vocal chameleon. My first real band was the Jones Boys Band. After Jake had left the group, it seemed off to call ourselves the Jones Boys when there was only one Jones left, so it seemed appropriate to become Calamity Jones. However, in all our minds, and the minds of our fans, we are still the Jones Boy’s Band. One thing that has blown me away through the years is how great it is that the local community has readily accepted us, and the local venues have taken us under their wings and kept us busy for these past sixteen years. To get to the topic at hand, when it comes to this being the bands “last waltz,” we are not angry. This is not a mad break-up. After sixteen years of devoting every weekend to music, we decided we need that time for our families. However, music isn’t something that just halts in someone’s life. It wouldn’t surprise me if new projects form after this. But for now, this finale will be an awesome party to celebrate playing together. Emotions may run high because this is a big part of our lives, but we felt like we owed it to the people, and the venue, to come out and have one big thank-you and send-off show. Be ready for a great show, and bring your dancing shoes. Remember: “Ain’t no party like a Jones Boy’s Party.” Thank you and much love to everyone that has supported us through the years. -Tim Babb

Got an event coming up? Festival Send it to

Concert The Loafer! Event

Exhibit

info@theloaferonline.com

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Chad Blackburn. Chad was well-known in the music scene, and in my opinion, is a top-notch and top-shelf drummer. Then, we began to take off and gain a reputation as a fun band to book for parties. Even as a cover band, we had a unique sound. We never tried to copy the original musicians, we played it as our own; how we wanted it to sound, and that is, I guess, the best way to say we never practiced. We began to think we’d hit it big when we got our official band van, known as “A Van.” In the band, we all had our own specialties. One of us was good with electronics and computers, another was good at being social, another was a good mechanic to keep “A Van” up and running; I can sum it up by saying: All the guys had a talent, while I was just eye-candy. Eventually, Jake Jones decided to leave the band to pursue a degree in Education at ETSU, and Randy Tarpley came to fill in. It was a good mix, and we were fortunate getting him to sign on full-time for us. Randy is an awesome guitarist and added a lot to the band in his own way, both with strong vocals and guitar talent. John Jones plays the doghouse bass, which helped us form a niche in the area by having that instrument alone. It’s not commonly used in a club atmosphere, but John’s diverse playing style made it feel right at home in almost any kind of music genre. As for myself, I don’t limit myself to one genre of music. I try to draw vocal techniques from all kinds of music,

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

On route to The Acoustic Coffeehouse

Nomadic husband and wife roots/folk duo Ordinary Elephant will play at The Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut St., Thursday May 4th at 10 p.m. in support of their latest studio album release 'Before I Go.' Free admission.

rdinary Elephant captivates listeners with their well-honed combination of insightful writing, effortless harmonies and intertwined clawhammer banjo and guitar. Husband and wife duo Crystal and Pete Damore have been performing together since 2011, but their 2017 sophomore release ‘Before I Go’ established them nationally and internationally. The album reached No. 2 on the Folk DJ Chart for January, and its songs secured them finalist slots at both the Kerrville Folk Festival and LEAF Festival songwriting competitions, where they will perform later this month.

The collaboration of husband and wife, their connection, and their influences (such as Guy Clark, Darrell Scott, Anais Mitchell, Mary Gauthier) all meet on stage. You see it, hear it, and then you find yourself truly feeling it. Pete’s understated, melodic and mellow banjo weaves through Crystal’s steady and clean rhythm guitar, and poetic lyrics are purposefully delivered in rich harmony. Dani Heyvaert of Netherlands' Rootstime.be said “I remember when Gillian Welch and David Rawlings were here for the first time…I suspect that this couple is going to play in the same league in the foreseeable future.” After calling Texas home, the two shed most of their possessions to become nomads in 2014. Living on the road full-time with their dogs, Ordinary Elephant is exploring the country, while creating and sharing the conversation of their music. For more information go to www.acousticcoffeehouse.net or call (423) 434-9872.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Roots/folk duo Ordinary Elephant

Spotlight

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

- TUESDAY - May 2nd -

If you or your band are playing in the upcoming week and would like to be in The Spotlight, call in advance to (423) 283-4324 or go online to: theloaferonline.com. Due to last minute cancellations or changes, please call the location to confirm.

- SATURDAY - May 6th -

- FRIDAY - May 5th -

Stemwinder Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill

68 live The Hideaway

The PF Flyers Jericho Temple

Railway Express Holston River Brewing Company

Jake Quillin Band The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

Southern Countrymen Band Willoughby Ruritan

Kyle Sherman Acoustic Coffeehouse

Lighting’ Charlie Johnson City Senior Center

Railway Express Painter Creek Marina

Under The Table Band Marker 2 Grille

Thomas Taylor & the Highrize Band Country Club Bar & Grill

Mark Larkins Beef O Brady’s

Mark Mahoney Model City Tap House

Jigsaw Jane Country Club Bar & Grill

Alex Baughman Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria

Darrin & Brooke Aldridge Down Home

Asylum Suite CJ’s Sports Bar

Mike McKamey Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria

Ralph II Carter Family Fold

Shooter Band CJ’s Sports Bar

Fat Catz Bone Fire Smokehouse

Bluegrass Sweethearts Bone Fire Smokehouse

Sucker Punch Holston River Brewing Company

Acoustifried Holston River Brewing Company

Billy Crawford Holiday Inn

Under The Table Band Marker ‘2’ Grille

Borderline Marker ‘2’ Grille

Kyle Joshua w/ Charlie The Kid Ethan Martin / Auburntown Acoustic Coffeehouse

Magnolia Justice / Brie & The Astrotones Acoustic Coffeehouse

- WEDNESDAY - May 3rd Voo Davis Bone Fire Smokehouse Joe Teichman Acoustic Coffeehouse Mark Larkins Lukes Pizza

- THURSDAY - May 4th The Diamonds Wellington’s Restaurant ETSU Old Time Bands Down Home Mark Mahoney & Special Guest at Model City Taphouse Marshall Ballew Bone Fire Smokehouse Nostalgia Duo at Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill Mick Kyte Holston River Brewing Company Jacob Milstein / Ordinary Elephant Acoustic Coffeehouse

- SATURDAY - May 6th -

- SUNDAY - May 7th -

American Dropouts / Archaic Knowledge & Captain Tunnel The Hideaway

Deadwood Drifters / Sammy Guns / Bob Flemming The Hideaway

Floyd Strange / These Are the Angles / Sterling Springs The Hideaway

If Birds Could Fly Sleepy Owl Brewery

Bill & The Belles Bone Fire Smokehouse

Ronnie Milsap Paramount Center for the Arts

The Diamonds at Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill

Ivy Road Marker ‘2’ Grille

Spank Wild Wing Cafe

Fireside Collective Down Home

Open Mic Acoustic Coffeehouse

Field Nots / Kindest People / Earth Suits Capone’s

EC Frazier Our House Restaurant

Shooter Beef O Brady’s

Sundown Band David Thompson’s Produce

Marvelous Function The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

Shades of Refinement Quaker Steak & Lube

Real Life Heavies Studio Brew

Borderline Band Marker ‘2’ Grille

Nightshift Band Chilhowee Lion’s Club

Angela Perley & Tim Howlin’ Moons The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

- FRIDAY - May 5th -

for show time & more details, visit

theloaferonline.com

Open Mic at Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill Open Mic Acoustic Coffeehouse

- TUESDAY - May 9th Coal Creek at Holston River Brewing Company

for show time & more details, visit

KARAOKE

SPOTLIGHT DIRECTORY

theloaferonline.com Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423-434-9872

Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423-844-0400

Model City Tap House 324 E Market St. Kingsport 423-765-0875

Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon VA 276-623-0037

Country Club of Bristol 6045 Old Jonesboro Rd. Bristol 423-652-1700

Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 3119 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423-262-0444

Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr. Bristol VA 276-466-4100

Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One Street Gray, TN 423-282-9440

CJ’S Sports Bar 516 Morelock St. Kingsport 423-390-1361

Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN

TUESDAY Karaoke w/ Tina and West at Dawg House Tavern Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Boomershine’s Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez & Top Shelf Entertainment at Holston River Brewing Company Karaoke w/ DJ Brad & Top Shelf Entertainment at Quaker Steak & Lube Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke Aat VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at New Beginning’s Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzaria ***********************

FRIDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke w/ DJ Brad & Top Shelf Entertainment at BoBo’s - Damascus VA Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez & Top Shelf Entertainment at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Moe’s Original BBQ Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** SATURDAY Karaoke at The Horseshoe Lounge Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN ***********************

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

- MONDAY - May 8th -

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

MARQS GONE LOONEY Over Moon Songs

Stargazer

By Mark Marquette since 1996 stargazermarq@ gmail.com

mateur astronomers like me will be putting our telescope and binoculars on La Luna as it is an irresistible target with all the beautiful formations highlighted along the lunar morning of the terminator. I might even have a few songs about the Moon playing on my stereo this week, or in headphones as I peruse the alien landscape of the Alpine Valley, the Straight Wall and the cluster of beautiful craters Theophilus, Cyrillus and Catharina. The mesmerizing sight of the Moon in our night sky has been the inspiration for artists of all kinds since antiquity. And among the world’s great songs, the ones about the Moon have been a successful, constant theme. The sight of the Moon no doubt inspired primitive musicians that include ancient chants of Druids and music from civilization of antiquity like the Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. If we could only have lyrics and music sheets of those lunar melodies! Our Mountain Empire is well-known as a hotbed of music; after all, Bristol is the birthplace of country music—deemed so by the first recordings in 1927 by Ralph Peer on the historic State Street dividing Tennessee and Virginia. During my three decades of living in the TriCities of Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City, I’ve professionally photographed dozens of musicians and been a groupie to several of our top talents. So I wonder what kind of Top 10 Moon Song set list I could come up with for the likes of Bluegrass Hall of Famer Doyle Lawson, or favorite balladeers like H.B. Beverly and Annie Robinette. And I’ve got plenty of Moon song ideas for favorite rockers Lightning Charlie, David Williams and the Benny Wilson Band. Maybe even a few ivory ticklers for piano man Anthony Mangrum! Allow me to indulge my Moon music fantasy and review some of the classics from a musical lunar voyage. In fact, there are hundreds of songs with the Moon in its theme—and I’ve catalogued most of them on my personal Spotify list of astronomy-themed songs. Henry Mancini’s “Moon River,” Cat Steven’s popular “Moon Shadow” and Van Morrison’s “Moon Dance” are just a few great songs inspired by La Luna. There are some great songs for all kinds of music lovers. Fans of the Grateful Dead all know the 1990s “Picasso Moon” and “Standing on the Moon.” And how about the Dead’s 1969 classic, “Mountains of the Moon?” Rock and roll icons have lots of lunar influence. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising,” Ozzy Osborne’s “Bark at the Moon,” Tom Petty’s “Full Moon Fever,” “Moonlight Mile” by the Rolling Stones, “Moonlight Drive” by the Doors and “Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie are some of the classics. The early Beatles sang “Mr. Moonlight,” and Paul McCartney was plain loony recording “C Moon” and “Monkberry Moon Delight” in his early solo

Earth’s nearest neighbor in space, our Moon, takes center stage in the skies this week as it reaches First Quarter phase and turns all heads upward for at least a quick glance. years. George Harrison was more serious with “Here Comes the Moon,” the “Here Comes the Sun” follow-up that sort of flopped. We’ve got the classic crooners - Frank Sinatra and “Fly Me To The Moon,” and Elvis with “Blue Moon.” Even country music superstars Brooks and Dunn have “Neon Moon.” Don’t forget Neil Young and the “Harvest Moon” album and its beautiful song title. Who hasn’t heard the classic “By the Light of the Silvery Moon?” But who knows it was written by Gus Edwards (music) and Edward Madden (lyrics) in 1909? Those Tin Pan Alley days had lots of Moon inspired songs. There is Alan Parsons Project and “Children of the Moon,” or how about the Police with Sting singing “Walking on the Moon.” And then there is the ultimate rock concept album that sent me and many a Baby Boomer on a real lunar trip—Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon!” Symphony classics are full of Moon sonatas and overtures. Beethoven had “Moonlight Sonata,” and Debussy had “Au Clair de Lune” translated “By the Light of the Moon.” How about the music of television with “Theme from Moonlighting” by Al Jarreau? And then there are the movies with “Theme from Moonraker” from the James Bond flick of the same name. There’s lots more Moon songs, old and new: “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” Arlen, Harburg & Rose, 1934; “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” Los Lobos, 1992; “Yellow Moon” Nevelle Brothers, 1989; “Moon at My Window” Joni Mitchell, 1982; “The Moon is Down” Gentle Giant 1971; “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Bill Monroe, 1947; and “Shine on Harvest Moon” Nora Bates and Jack Norworth, 1903. Like all Top 10s, there are lots of surprises, and lots of great songs. What are your favorite Moon tunes? And now the big reveal…MarQ’s Top 10 favorite songs inspired by La Luna… they are: 10. “Moon River” Henry Mancini 9. “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” Bill Monroe 8. “Man on the Moon” R.E.M. 7. “Picasso Moon” Grateful Dead 6. “Shine on Harvest Moon” Bates and Norworth 5. “Moonage Daydream” David Bowie 4. “Bad Moon Rising” Creedence Clearwater Revival 3. “Dark Side of the Moon” Pink Floyd’s album 2. “Moondance” Van Morrison 1. “Moonshadow” Cat Stevens I hope you’ve been inspired my sense of lunacy. Spin some moon vinyl, download some moon iTunes or load up a thumb drive full of your favorites. I can’t wait to hear some Moon songs on the set lists of my favorite Tri-Cities musicians!

oonlight will turn heads skyward as our neighbor in space dances around its First Quarter phase. Any telescope—even binoculars—will show the magnificent shadows of craters and mountains along the morning light of the terminator. If you see a “shooting star” this week, it is probably a piece of the famous Comet Halley as the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is in progress.

Tuesday, May 2 Planet Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the night sky. And you can see its fat globe and four moons like star points orbiting around it. Any telescope will do, and I’ve seen images captured with Smartphones. Those moons were discovered by Galileo 400 years ago, and two of them, Enceladus and Europa, have global oceans under their frozen surfaces, maybe harboring life. Moon Io has 200 erupting sulfur volcanoes, and Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System, bigger than planet Mercury. Wednesday, May 3 First Quarter Moon is today. The line between day and night is the terminator, and on Earth we call this line twilight. Enjoy and be inspired by La Luna.

Thursday, May 4 Early morning risers will no doubt see that brilliant white “star” in the eastern horizon. That’s planet Venus, which dazzled us all winter in the evening sky and now has popped up in the morning. Ancient astronomers thought Venus was two different objects, and morning and evening star. Friday, May 5 On this 1961 date in space history, America’s first spaceman, Alan Shepard, was launched on a rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida for a short 15 minute ride to the weightless environment of space and back to the Atlantic Ocean. Saturday, May 6 In the constellation Virgo, the Moon, Jupiter and star Spica form a celestial triangle, a beautiful sight. Watch the Moon’s motion eastward at 2,100 mph as it separates itself from Jupiter and

Spica throughout the night. The Moon moves its own diameter every hour, one-half a degree. So in a full day it moves 12.5 degrees eastward. Sunday, May 7 Tonight is the peak of the Eta Aquarid Meteor shower, and you might see up to 20 meteors an hour after midnight—and a bunch of strays throughout the evening. These “shooting stars” are sand grain-sized pieces of Halley’s Comet as Earth passes through its orbit. Halley’s Comet was last seen in 1986, and will return in 2061. Monday, May 8 High in the south are two constellations, Corvus the Crow, and Crater the Cup. Both are faint, but Corvus is recognizable as a lopsided square in dark skies. Crater has some stars that curve, and is a star pattern that is supposed to be the goblet of god Apollo.

25 theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

THIS WEEK

SKIES

Celestial events in the skies for the week of May 2 - 8, 2017 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

A Double Dose of Demy The Criterion Collection, that powerhouse of fine editions of films on home video, recently released two blurays of films by French director Jacques Demy. Both had been previously released in their box set collecting a number of the director’s work, but this marks the first time they’ve been available outside of that collection. The two films in question are arguably Demy’s most popular works “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” & “The Young Girls of Rochefort.” Both musicals featuring an amazing color pallet that will simply dazzle and enchant anyone who hasn’t seen these wonderful films.

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com

rom 1964 “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” is a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors, entirely sung, set to music composed by Michel Legrand. It is also one of the most heartbreaking films I’ve ever seen. Set in the late 1950s, “Cherbourg” tells the story of two young lovers, Genevieve and Guy, who are in love for the very first time in their lives. Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) is a garage mechanic, who dreams of having a garage of his own, while Genevieve (Catherine Deneuve) works with her mother at the

umbrella shop her mother owns. Guy and Genevieve want to be married, but Genevieve's mother says she is too young. The young lover’s plans for the future are interrupted when Guy receives his draft notice and is shipped off to fight in Algeria for two years. I don’t want to spoil any of the film, so this is where I must stop with the plot. What “Cherbourg” does that hits me right in the center of my emotional breadbox is show us that one thing that we all have in common. Regardless of who we are, where we’re from, or what we believe in, we all have experienced having a first love. That moment in our lives when we feel so adult, yet still so young. When love is an overwhelming feeling that throws you on the mat in the most beautiful way. When life seems endlessly possible, and nothing could go wrong. This is not to say that I feel the older we get the less we have to feel hopeful or optimistic--I refuse to not feel those thoughts as I age. But the film so beautifully taps into those emotions of “What if?” that often haunt us about those we once loved. Frankly, “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” makes me sob every time I see it. Not cry, not weep, but sob. Sob like someone at a funeral, sob in a way that is most human and most beautiful. In an interview in the early ‘70s Demy said with “Cherbourg” that “I set out to make a film that would make people cry.” He succeeded wildly. It’s a beautiful movie, and one that everyone should see.

Continued on page 39

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Niswonger VILLAGE at ETSU Eastman Valleybrook campus

For years, leaders in East Tennessee State 27 University’s College of Public Health have utilized the ETSU Eastman Valleybrook campus in rural Washington County to teach students valuable skills – everything from making a brick from scratch to constructing a filter to obtain clean drinking water.

ut at the end of the day, we realized that we have to make sure our students not just have the skills, but can apply them,” said Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of the College of Public Health. “Our students must be able to impact health in low-resource settings – following a disaster or in rural areas both domestically and abroad.” The VILLAGE (Virtual International Living: Learning Across Global Environments) represents how people live in rural and isolated communities around the world and provides students with the ability to demonstrate their skills and engage in handson exercises. “Our job here in the Niswonger VILLAGE is to create the kind of situations that challenge our students to use creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork and innovation to really make a difference in people’s lives,” Wykoff said. “I really want to teach the students to be able to identify problems and come up with creative solutions to address them.” Through the Niswonger Foundation, Scott Niswonger, a local businessman and well-known philanthropist in the region as well as the chairman of the ETSU Board of Trustees, donated funds for the creation of the VILLAGE, recognizing its ability take higher education to the next level. “The Niswonger Foundation has a long and successful history of working with ETSU overall and with the College of Public Health,” he said. “The Niswonger Scholars have received training from the College of Public Health here on the Valleybrook campus and I was privileged to be able to contribute thoughts and ideas about the VILLAGE as it was being conceived.” Both graduate and undergraduate public health students spend educational time at the Niswonger VILLAGE, offering the opportunity to go from theory and notebooks to handson experience. In those experiences, students discuss health systems and health challenges, both domestic and international, then try to develop interventions and programming to improve health outcomes and change environments and policies. For more information about the Niswonger Village, visit http:// www.etsu.edu/cph/village.php. For a video about the work being done at the ETSU Eastman Valleybrook campus, visit https:// youtu.be/ToVk6W431Bc.

Born In China

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

(Rated G) 4 Stars

Every Earth Day Disneynature releases a film appropriate for the day, and I have become a fan of these films.

T Pop Life

By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com

he first Disneynature film I experienced at the theater was the 2011 release "Big Cats", and after that joyous and unforgettable film, I have made the yearly trek to the theater to see the latest Earth Day offering. This year the studio is presenting "Born in China", and the latest nature documentary is being described as the most ambitious yet. The film is an American/Chinese calibration, and follows a female snow leopard and her cubs, a female giant panda and her newborn cub, and a young male golden snub-nosed monkey and his extended family. These animals are all native to China, and other than the panda, I didn't realize the leopards and monkeys were only found in China. The film opens with an introduction to the wilds of China that few Americans have experienced, and the scenery is majestic and often other-worldly. As with the other films in the series, the narrator assigns the animals names, which of course causes us to become attached to them. While all is happy most of the time for the animals, the mother panda must deal with the pending separation from her growing cub, the snow leopards deal with rivals and a tragedy, and the adorable golden monkey deals with a rival younger sister. The filmmakers go back and forth between the stories of the animals, and follow them through the four seasons. The film also shows various scenes with the majestic redcrowned cranes, which play a large role in Chinese mythology. All of the segments with the various animals are amazing, with the monkeys, as expected, providing the most humorous and lighthearted moments. The filmmakers in the series always do a masterful job of making us feel as if we are right there hanging out with the various animals, resulting in amazing intimacy with these amazing and beautiful creatures. Even if there were no animals in this film, the scenery of the wilderness of China is breathtaking and would make for a wonderful film. As with the other films, don't leave the theater early as you will get a marvelous behind-the-scenes experience from those involved in the film making. It was amazing to me to see how dedicated the filmmakers were while enduring all types of weather. One minute there would be hail, and the next bright sunshine, which reminded me of weather in East Tennessee. How can you go wrong when you combine beautiful animals with the wonders of wilderness? You can't. Director Chaun Lu, one of the most successful in his field in China, has done a masterful presenting a love letter about his country. If you have never seen a Disneynature film on the big screen, I suggest you take the whole family and start with "Born in China", a cinematic experience featuring the magic of nature that will leave you with a lasting impression of the beauty of creation.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Cantemus Women’s Choir Spring Concert

The Spring, 2017 concert of Cantemus Women’s Choir, “Songbirds”, takes flight on Sunday, May 7th at 7:30 pm at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church in Kingsport. United by themes of nature, birds and flight, the concert draws upon baroque, romantic and 20th century works to create a rich and uplifting program of choral music. Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar, Eleanor Daley, Sarah Quartel and Antonio Vivaldi are among the featured composers in the May concert.

ow in its third year, the choir brings together about three dozen women from the Tri Cities area, from Abingdon, VA to Greeneville, TN and points in between. The choir is under the direction of Patty Denmark, who is also the Director of Music at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church and Assistant Choir Director at Dobyns-Bennett High School. Mixing a cappella music with a range of small instrumental ensembles, Cantemus has built an enthusiastic regional audience who’ve come to love their elegant and dynamic performances. In this concert, the singers will be joined on several pieces by the Cambia Flute Ensemble. The “Songbird” theme, according to Denmark, came when she heard a piece of the same name by Sarah Quartel. “Typically, I’ll find a piece of music that I

really like, that inspires me,” says Denmark, “and use that as a starting point, a theme to build the program.” In this case that theme also includes Quartel’s “Here on These Branches”, “Be Like the Bird”, a five-part round by Abbie Betinis, and Joan Szymko’s “The Peace of Wild Things”, a setting of Wendell Berry’s well known poem. This season, Cantemus has performed at Biltmore Estate in November, and the Women in Song Festival, held at Milligan College in March, as well as concerts at Waverly Road in the fall and at Christmas. “Songbirds” is free and open to the public, though donation of $10 is suggested. For more information, contact Patty Denmark at cantemuswomenschoir@gmail.com Find us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/cantemuswomenschoir/ or on the web at www.cantemuswomenschoir.org

With the rapid change in seasons Mother nature unsure Undecided Migratory patterns have been altered Plant life Sprouting and blooming Out of sequence Out of turn Nowhere is this more evident Than in my internal ecosystem

The Casual Word

By Langley Shazor Follow Langley at TheCasualWord

Bringing about an unexpected metamorphosis This early spring Catalyzed cocoon clusters Resulting in such a rapid influx of butterflies My stomach cannot contain them all Following their instincts They quickly make the journey north Producing palpitations Multiplying exponentially A super generation to return south And the cycle continues

QStock continued from page 14 The show includes another locally fan based band, Rock and Roll Freak Show. Gary Bortz leads the ensemble and creates a presentation of tightly performed classic rock laced with a comedic personality and crowdwinning banter. Opening the show is Ali Randolph and the Outta Luck Band. Randolph’s dynamic stage presence complements the band’s precise renditions of rock, tinged with a taste of country and blues. Gates open at Kingsport Speedway, 12:00 noon, with the first band hitting the stage at 2:00pm. There are no coolers, food, beverages or pets allowed. Food trucks will be onsite, as well as soft drinks, water and of course, Bud Light. Tickets are $26.00, plus service charges and taxes. They can be purchased at www.wqut.com. Come thirsty, come hungry, and be ready to rock for the entire day. It’s the QStock Music Festival presented by 101.5 FM WQUT – Tri Cities Classic Rock!

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

- Monarch -

Premiers on Radio Bristol

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Ed Snodderly's Record Shop

Esteemed Singer-Songwriter Performs Music From His Latest Album Live And On The Air

verse to Ed Snodderly's song "The Diamond Stream" is permanently etched upon the wall in the Hall of Honor at the Country Music Hall of Fame, yet the legacy of this multitalented musician, songwriter, playwright, and actor extends far beyond the carefully crafted lyrics in his impressive catalogue. Among Snodderly's gifts to our region and beyond is a small listening room in Johnson City, Tennessee, known as The Down Home. Established in 1976, Snodderly's esteemed venue has served as a sacred rite of passage for musicians and a trusted source of consistently good live music for audiences who prefer the band to be front and center instead of background noise. The intimate stage has hosted iconic talent such as Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, Newgrass Revival, and Alison Krauss, to name a few, and it remains one of the most respected venues in our region. On Friday, May 5, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., Ed Snodderly ventures to Bristol to share his own music ongs from his latest release, Record Shop in another intimate space: the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. This concert will air simultaneously on Radio Bristol. Snodderly's songs have been recorded by artists such as Sam Bush, Missy Raines, Jerry Douglas, and John Cowan, and his music continues to draw from the deep well of traditional, Appalachian influences. His thoughtful lyricism and skilled musicianship paint mesmeric landscapes of a distinctly southern panorama. A highly engaging entertainer, Snodderly is a modern classic whose music goes down as smooth as Tennessee Tea. To be part of the studio audience for Radio Bristol Presents: Ed Snodderly, tickets are available for $20 online at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org and at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Doors to the show open at 6:30 p.m. Listeners may tune into Radio Bristol at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, online at ListenRadioBristol.org, or through the station's free mobile app.

America’s National Parks are home to some of the most astonishing landscapes on earth, from the highest mountain in North America in Denali National Park to the plunging cliffs of the Grand Canyon. Hundreds of millions of visitors flock each year to see the geysers of Yellowstone, the waterfalls of Yosemite Valley, and the crashing surf along the shores of Acadia. America became the first country in the world to

Appalachian Wanderers

Visitors to the park can enjoy a 2 mile walk on the elevated boardwalk through the many different terrains the park offers.

By Jason & Daniel Worley jdworley@ theloaferonline.com

hile the giant Sequoias of the Sierra Nevada and Hawaii’s rivers of lava enjoy endless popularity and serve as icons of the national parks, many other parks offer wonders just as breathtaking but fly under the radar. Ever heard of Black Canyon of the Gunnison? How about Dry Tortugas, or even Voyageurs? These are all national parks, located in Colorado, Florida, and Minnesota respectively, that are every bit as magical as the peaks of the Grand Tetons. Congaree National Park, located just four hours away in Columbia, South Carolina, is another park which offers a multitude of wonders for those who make the trip into its forests. Located just thirty minutes south of downtown Columbia, the woodlands of Congaree make up the largest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the entire United States. 27,000 acres may sound small compared to western parks, but Congaree packs an astounding amount of biodiversity and habitats within its borders. The trees here are some of the tallest in the eastern U.S., with record-breaking loblolly pines, tupelos, and sweetgums towering more than one hundred fifty feet to jut high above the forest canopy. Within the many streams and lakes that dot the park live an abundance of wildlife, from river otters and bullfrogs to alligators. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker swoops through the trees, and dwarf palmettos blanket portions of the forest floor. Unlike many parks such as the Great Smoky Mountains, Congaree is almost devoid of roads. Even approaching the park you’d almost have no idea that it was there. No crowded highways, tourist towns, and neon lights are lined up at the entrance to welcome you. Small signs point the way through residential areas until you reach the main park entrance. National Park Road is only about a mile long and leads to the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, named for one of the individuals who spearheaded the campaign to protect Congaree. As at most national parks, here you can stock up on maps, get your national parks passport stamped, and pick up the activity guide for the Jr. Park Ranger program. Be sure to ask the rangers what the current trail conditions are, or better yet, call before you go. We enjoy chatting with the local rangers who always show the love they have for their job. Ranger Rachel Post was great and swore us both in as Jr. Rangers, something no other park has done before. Since the majority of the park lies within the Congaree River floodplain, wet weather can lead to many of the

establish a national park system in order to protect the most pristine and beautiful scenery found from coast to coast, and today we have a total of fifty-nine parks. Combined with the other units in the national park system such as national historic sites and national monuments, over eighty-four million acres are now preserved for visitors to enjoy.

park’s trails becoming unpassable. Even when this does occur, the park’s interpretive boardwalk trail is usually open. This 2.4-mile loop passes through a variety of the park’s unique ecosystems. Numbered stops and a free guidebook at the visitor center help explain the different areas you pass through. If you start by going to the right, the lower portion of the boardwalk will go through a forest comprised of water tupelo and bald cypress. As during our trip, this area is a swamp much of the time. Occasionally the waters rise to cover even the elevated boardwalk, so once again check with a ranger before venturing off! As it loops back towards the visitor center it passes by the tranquil waters of Weston Lake and then climbs through some dryer terrain. Here you’ll find the loblolly pines which are the stars of this ancient forest. If the trails are passable, there are miles of them which delve deep into the wilderness areas of the park and provide access to the river itself. During wetter periods visitors’ best choice for exploring the park is by canoe or kayak. Check out the park’s website or chat with a ranger to get an idea of the areas which are accessible and which of those you would like to explore. The park serves as the terminus for the fifty-mile Congaree River Blue Trail, a blue way which begins in downtown Columbia and allows residents of the area to experience nature within the city. Of course, the park offers many other activities which are expected at national parks if hiking isn’t your thing. Fishing is allowed almost everywhere, just be sure to bring artificial lures as live bait isn’t allowed. Rangers lead regularly-scheduled activities on almost a weekly basis which can help to spark children’s interest in the outdoors. Two campgrounds are available for only a nominal fee and are free of the crowds which descend on many of the Smokies’ camping areas. Birding is also a popular activity, as the park is renowned for its profusion of feathered inhabitants which make there home here. Take the time to explore this biological wonderland, and we’re sure that you’ll leave just as awe-inspired as we were. It doesn’t always take towering mountains to capture the emotions which we humans naturally hold for mother earth. Sometimes the flash of a redheaded woodpecker, the whisper of the wind through Spanish moss, or the towering crowns of a loblolly pine are more than enough to remind us how precious the natural world really can be.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Congaree National Park

Dr. Meaghan Guest

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

The Interview

She will kill me for saying this, but there is nothing I hate worse than going to the dentist for a root canal. That being said, I have had the misfortune to receive them from numerous dentists over the years and this lady is by far the one who has done the best job. If you don’t know Dr. Meaghan Guest and her family,

Mountain Movers

By Brian Bishop bbishop@ theloaferonline.com

BRIAN: First of all, thanks for making time to talk with me. You were raised a Kingsport kid the same as myself. What was it like from your perspective to grow up here and how did it shape you? MEAGHAN: I think growing up here as a kid, there are a lot of great things about this area that you take for granted. But now as an adult having a family here in East TN, you realize how valuable it was to grow up here. It’s just a really great place to raise a family. It helped make me the person that I am today, and I hope it does the same for my kids as they grow up.

just ask anybody who has grown up in Kingsport and I guarantee they do. When you think about people who are “from here” and represent the personality, faith and love of people we are known for, she is all of that and a bag of chips. Meet Dr. Meaghan, she will make you smile.

they will always value family as much as I do. Having two kids and trying to balance that with work can be a challenge, especially as they get older and get involved in more things. It starts with having a strong marriage, and my husband and I know that it takes both of us working at it all the time to put all the pieces together and make it work. Even then, we both have full time jobs, but we have been very blessed the last few years to have a very trust-worthy lady stay with our kids while we’re at work. It’s definitely a team effort.

BRIAN: Faith is a cornerstone of our regional heritage. How important is your faith BRIAN: You have traveled a lot and seen to you in your daily life? enough of what life and people are like other MEAGHAN: It’s the most important thing in my life. places to have a great view on this question. Why do My faith in Christ strengthens my marriage, it makes me a you love it in this region so much you have decided to stay here? better parent, and I think it makes me a better person at work for our MEAGHAN: I have been fortunate to visit a lot of different places, and employees and patients to be around. It means everything to me, a lot of those places were really amazing. But there’s never anywhere and I hope I reflect that to the people around me. like home. It’s like when you go on vacation you’re always excited to get there and you make the most out of every moment, but there’s BRIAN: Final thought, the practice of Guest, Guest & Guest is going just something about getting back home. It’s just always good to strong. How can people who need you find you and find out more, get back to the mountains and be back around your family, friends, and what are some of the unique things you offer? and your community. I love our landscape and our seasons here, but MEAGHAN: You can follow or message us on facebook at Guest, Guest, most of all it’s the people. There are just so many good people in our & Guest DMD or contact the office Monday through Friday from 7am area. It’s hard to deny that makes this a great place to live. to 4 pm. Our informative website is www.guestdds.com Our office is a family practice and we pride ourselves in creating a BRIAN: Your family has been a part of Kingsport as long as I can relaxed and friendly atmosphere putting our patients first. Guest remember and I have lived here my whole life. Why is family so dentistry is an advanced cosmetic and general practice that is able important to you and how do you balance family and work? to provide all your dental needs to help create the smile you deserve. MEAGHAN: My parents always taught me the importance of family Our options include Invisalign Clear aligners, Dental Crowns and values, and that has never changed for me. Having good, close Bridgework, Root Canals, Cosmetic Bonding, Teeth Whitening, Toothrelationships with your family members is just so important for so Colored Fillings, Teeth Cleanings and Exams. many reasons. I just want to set a good example for our kids so that

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Featuring Ohio Touring Band

Contra Dance in Jonesborough

The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will present a 37 community contra dance on Saturday May 7, 2016 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street. Class for beginning contra dancers will happen at 7:00 pm. The dance will run from 7:30-10:30 pm with a waltz and Klondike Bar break at 9:00pm. Coming to Jonesborough to perform for the dance will be the Zeke’s Fancy from Athens, OH. Calling for the dance will be the ever popular Diane Silver from Asheville.

ow that contra dance has become so popular all over this country, there are many stepby-step guides on how to do contra dance on the internet. “Even though we teach a brief workshop prior to the dance, there are other resources including contra dance videos, essays and other instruction available all over the web” states event organizer David Wiley. “We also encourage newcomers to partner with experienced dancers for the first few dances to build their confidence and show them how easy and fun contra dancing is”. You can bring the whole family to dance. Zeke's Fancy takes traditional dance music from Appalachia and the British Isles, combines it with swing, and creates driving music for contra dance. The members of Zeke’s Fancy combine rich musical backgrounds in traditional, bluegrass, classical and jazz and bring it all to the dance. Zeke Hutchison, mandolin, grew up with music all around. Both his grandfathers played the fiddle and his father and uncle performed nationally as the Hutchison Brothers. Zeke recently recorded with Tim O’Brien on his Short Order Sessions, and writes that Zeke “is one of the very best unsung mandolin players in the world.” Mark Barsamian started out playing classical violin and viola and now brings wonderful tone and powerful technique to old-time, contra, Irish and Scottish tunes. A long-time contra dancer, Mark knows which tune to match with which dance for maximum dance drive. Paul Brown is a two time Ohio state champion banjo player and has placed in the top 5 at the National Bluegrass Banjo Championships in Winfield, Kansas twice. Dave Borowski is a guitarist and bassist

whose deepest musical roots are in country, swing, jazz, and blues. He also plays with Zeke's uncle in J.D. Hutchison and Realbilly Jive, and in the roots-rock Athens-based band, The Wing Nuts. Nick Weiland started out as the drummer in a 60’s garage band and has taken a long musical road to arrive at contra dance. He is also the bassist for the Hotpoint Stringband and brings their rhythm and drive to Zeke’s Fancy. Come as you are; wear soft flexible shoes for dancing. Come to dance, join the potluck dinner or just to listen. No partner is necessary. All dances are taught. As always, our dances are smoke and alcohol free. Admission to the dance is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. Families with their own children are all admitted for only $15.

For further information call event organizer, David Wiley, at 423-534-8879 or visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org or Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

Storyteller Sam Payne Brings Jazz-Inflected Folk to Jonesborough

Sam Payne, a storyteller and singer-songwriter based in Utah, will appear as the second teller in residence in the Storytelling Live! series, an artistic residency program produced by the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough.

hroughout his weeklong appearance, May 9-13 (Tuesday through Saturday), he’ll offer daily matinees at 2:00 p.m. in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall on ISC’s downtown campus. Payne got his start in the entertainment industry as a professional musician, but even before his career shifted into storytelling, he sensed a strong connection between stories and songs. “Maybe this is true for everybody, but all my big experiences in life are so easily triggered by the memory of a piece of music,” he says. He often mixes old standards

and the occasional song from a musical into his sets, reliving those experiences with his audience. Payne considers even the musical portions of his program as a form of storytelling, and works hard to blur the line between where a song ends and a story begins. “Some of my stories might be described as musical stories,” he says, “but others are stories about music. Then there are the pieces I play that are simply stories in and of themselves.” He has a strong interest in the American tradition of folk music, a form that heavily relies on jazz, which gives his sound an idiosyncratic twist, and narrative. Payne, a trained actor, also co-directs a children’s Shakespeare company where he works with kids starting at age three. One play he recently directed had three generations from one family. “We have four-year old murderers hiding behind trees with their cloaks

and knives,” he says. “It’s really something to see.” The Storytelling Live! series, which runs through late October, will bring a new teller to Jonesborough each week for at least five matinee performances. Tickets are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18 for all performances. Advance purchase is always recommended. Ticketholders can present their ticket stubs for a 10 percent discount on same-day dining at JJ’s Eatery and Ice Cream or Main Street Café, two popular eateries in Jonesborough. Information about all performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2017, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. 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 800952-8392 ext. 222 or 423-9131276.

Criterion’s blu-ray of “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” looks absolutely amazing, the film has a color pallet that is one of the most beautiful ever captured onto film. Shot on Eastman color, which fades rapidly, Demy decided to protect that color pallet at the time of the film’s production by having the movie not only printed out as a regular negative, but also onto color separation masters that wouldn’t fade over time. The film has a French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, with English subtitles. Bonus features include a few documentaries on the film, interviews with the filmmakers, and more. A must own. Demy followed up “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” with 1967’s “The Young Girls of Rochefort,” his ultimate tribute to the Hollywood musical, even delaying the production by two years so he could have Gene Kelly in the cast. Again Demy teamed up with Michel Legrand, who provides a beautiful Jazz based score for this film, and cast Catherine Deneuve once more in one of the leading roles. Like “Cherbourg” this film has another incredible color pallet-drenched in pastels--but unlike “Cherbourg” it doesn’t make me weep, it’s a charming joy from start to end. “Young Girls” is about a pair of twins, Delphine and Solange (Deneuve and her real-life sister Francoise Dorleac) who dream

of big city life. When a carnival comes to their quiet town, they sense a chance for escape. Another film about love & missed connections, “Young Girls” is may be sunnier than “Cherbourg,” but just as great. It’s such a frothy confection that its charms are simply impossible to resist, outside of perhaps only the most hardened of hearts. Of the two films, I do lean a bit more towards “Young Girls” being my favorite, partially as I know it’s not going to destroy me emotionally every time I watch it. Again, Criterion’s blu-ray of “The Young Girls of Rochefort” delivers that knock out Demy color beautifully. The film is presented in French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with English subtitles, the 5.1 mix created from a six channel soundtrack created at the time of the film’s release for 70mm prints. Like “Cherbourg” the bonus features include documentaries, conversation with those involved in the film, and interviews with Demy and Legrand from 1966 as they were working on the score. Both of these films are gems and cinematic delights, if you haven’t picked up Criterion’s Jacques Demy box set, these two are an absolute must. I doubt you could go wrong with either of them. Films like these remind you of why you fell in love with the movies in the first place. A phrase I like to use, but most warranted here. See you next week.

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Batteries continued from page 26

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Answers on page42

Cookie is a 2 year old Terrier mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. This cutie is very vocal and loves attention!

Goldie is a 2 year old mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. This is the sweetest most gentle dog! She truly deserves a loving family!

he Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061 Hwy 75 in Blountville,TN 37617. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue has started a pet food pantry for people that have had financial hardships because of job loss or medical problems and are struggling to feed their pet. They can come by the shelter and get cat or dog food to get through the tough time. Donations can be sent to The Bridge

Home Shelter PO Box 654 Blountville, TN 37617 Every animal in their care is spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated before being adopted. Being a non profit the shelter is funded entirely by membership dues and private donations. They always need volunteers or monetary donations. Other always needed items:pet food, cat litter & cat toys dog treats & dog toys,paper towels, cleaners, office supplies,Purina weight circles. Phone: 423-239-5237 Hours are Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm Sat 12pm3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www. bridgehomerescue@gmail.com or like them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ bridgehome

41 theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

PETS

OF THE WEEK

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017

THINGS TO DO Volunteers Wanted: Make a BIG Impact You can make a difference in a child’s life. Big Brothers Big Sisters believe that all children should have the opportunity to succeed in life and live up to their full potential. Some kids need someone to help them along that path. Spend a few hours a month as a mentor to a child and you can make a BIG impact in that child’s life. It’s rewarding and fun! Call 423-247-3240 or visit www. tennesseebig.org to find out more about volunteering to become a Big Brother or Big Sister. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In addition to scheduled blood Services’ Friday Night Dance milks, coins, tokens, post cards, fruit jars, advertising and table- drives, donors are welcome series, which takes place the top collectibles. For table rental at Marsh Regional’s collection first and third Friday each month or further information contact centers: 111 W. Stone Drive, Suite at Memorial Park Community Carl Bailey @ 423-282-3119 or 300, Kingsport, 2428 Knob Creek Center, 510 Bert St. Peggy Cox @ 423-349-4027 or Road, Johnson City and 1996 W. Cost is $5; discount available Email peggy@appalachianfair. State St., Bristol. for Silver Sneakers® eligible For more information about participants. Please prewith a grinder from brush that com or cknhs@comcast.net.. scheduling a blood drive at a register and pay at the MPCC the City has collected. It is not •••••••••••••••••••••••••• local business, church, school or Senior Services desk. For more compost and may contain weed Spring Book Sale & Gray Library community organization, please information, call 423-434-6237. material. Readers of all ages are invited call 423-408-7500, 423-652-0014 For more information, please •••••••••••••••••••••••••• call the Public Works Street to come to the Spring book sale or 276-679-4669 or visit www. at the Gray Library on May 5 and marshblood.com. Free Comic Day @ the Library Division at 423-975-2700. 6. Hours will be 9 to 5 on Friday Patrons of all ages are invited •••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••• and 9 to 2 on Saturday. A wide to attend Free Comic Book variety of adult and children's Free Computer classes for May Day at the Johnson City Public Visiting Artist to Teach 3 Day hardcover and paperback books, at Gray Library Library on Saturday, May 6 from Workshop f you need help learning or 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Georgie Bemis, New Mexico DVDs, magazines, audiobooks, pastel artist, will teach a 3 day CDs, puzzles, etc., will be for enhancing your computer skills Polly Peterson Reading Room. workshop exploring different sale. The sale is sponsored by this month, Gray Library is the There will be crafts and activities strategies and techniques for the Friends of the Washington place to go. Classes begin at 4:30 for children, and cosplayers of painting with pastels May 4 County (TN) Library. FOL is a p.m., and last about an hour. You popular characters will be on-6 at the Renaissance Center, volunteer organization dedicated may bring a laptop or request to site for photographs. Teens and Kingsport, room 313. The to supporting the activities of the borrow one of the library's for adults can pick out one free workshop is sponsored by the library and providing funding for the class. Register by calling the comic book while supplies last, thanks to a generous donation Kingsport Art Guild and will programs, services, and items library at 423-477-1550. Tuesday, May 9 • Email from G2K Games. Costumes are include daily demos and cover outside the regular budget of the Thursday, May 25 • E-readers encouraged. This program is free pastel topics such as the use library. and open to the public. of soft and hard lines, vibrant •••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••• To learn more about this and versus muted color choices, and Friday Night Dance featuring other upcoming programs, visit Blood Drive choosing your subject matter the library’s events calendar at Marsh Regional Blood Center Lightnin' Charlie using photos. The workshop is open to members and non- will conduct public blood drives Citizens are invited to dance the www.jcpl.net, like the library’s members and is presented in at the area locations. Visit http:// night away with Lightnin’ Charlie Facebook page, or follow the conjunction with the Appalachian tinyurl.com/n4aujx9 to find a from 7-10 p.m. on May 5. This library on Twitter and Instagram. performance is part of Senior Arts Show where Bemis will location near you. serve as guest juror. Workshop fee is $320 for KAG members Cryptogram: If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a and $355 for non- members shortage of flowers. (includes 1 year membership). DropQuote: "The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child Visit kingsportartguild.com for should be given the wish to learn." complete information or contact dianeallen280@gmail.com.

An Evening wiht Laura Dowling The Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners Association presents an evening with Laura Dowling the Chief Floral Designer at the White House from 20092015. She will be discussing her role as creative director of flowers and decor and providing spring arranging tips. She will also be discussing her recently released book "Floral Diplomacy at the White House".Books will be available for purchase. The event is free and open to the public. It will be held Monday May 8 at the auditorium in the Johnson City Power Board building 2600 Boones Creek Road in Johnson •••••••••••••••••••••••••• City. Doors open at 630pm and Antique Collectibles and Bottle lecture begins at 7pm. Show and Sale •••••••••••••••••••••••••• The State of Franklin Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club will Free mulch giveaway sponsor its 19th Annual Antique The Johnson City Public Works Collectibles and Bottle Show and Department invites the public to Sale on Saturday, May 6, 2017, a free mulch giveaway Saturday, in the Farm and Home Building May 6 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Cash at the Appalachian Fairgrounds Hollow Convenience Center, 191 Cash Hollow Road. Staff will be located at Exit 13 off I-26. available to assist with loading; Admission is free with show hours from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. there is no limit on amount. This mulch has been ground Show includes sodas, medicines,

JEFF GUINN’S AMERICA Chances are, you may not be familiar with Jeff Guinn, one of my favorite American historians. Although he has written nineteen books and is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, he is not a household name like David McCullough, Nathaniel Philbrick, Doris Kearns Goodwin, or Joseph Ellis. In my estimation Guinn belongs in their company, because he is producing some very compelling perspectives on our history that deserve a wide readership.

Kelly’s Place

By Jim Kelly since 1989 jkelly@ theloaferonline.com

ther than his Western-themed novels, Guinn’s speciality is examining individuals who personify oftenneglected aspects of our history. Here we are not going to explore his books about Santa Claus (THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS, THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES, THE GREAT SANTA SEARCH) or vampires (SOMETHING IN THE BLOOD: THE UNDERGROUND WORLD OF TODAY’S VAMPIRES), but his ongoing series about notorious individual who illuminate some important corners of our history. These individuals--Wyatt Earp, Bonnie and Clyde, Charles Manson, and Jim Jones--are representative of their respective time periods, but unlike the subjects of many historical biographies, this outlaw group, while certainly not exemplary, forces us to examine the role played by crime and violence in our lives. Other historians have chosen various individuals to represent an era--Stephen Oates, for instance, who wrote a trilogy about Nat Turner, John Brown, and Abraham Lincoln that captures some vital elements of American political and social life during the Civil War era. Unlike Oates, Guinn takes a wider view by using his subjects to capture some very intriguing interpretations of the 1880s, 1930s, 1960s, and 1970s. THE LAST GUNFIGHT: THE REAL STORY OF THE SHOOTOUT AT THE O.K. CORRAL--AND HOW IT CHANGED THE AMERICAN WEST (2011) revisits Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881 and shows how the much-misunderstood gunfight at the O.K. Corral illustrates how that encounter between Wyatt Earp and the Clanton gang sheds light on how the forces of modernism were transforming the American West during the late nineteenth century. After an opening chapter that surveys the history of westward expansion from the era of Daniel Boone to that of Wyatt Earp (and beyond, when the legend of the O.K.Corral entered the realm of American popular culture with movies, TV shows, etc.), Guinn moves on to a detailed and engrossing account of the gunfight itself and how it came to be. Acknowledging that the “real story of the American West--and of the Earps, and of Tombstone--is far more interesting than mythology,” Guinn concludes that the confrontation, “represented an unintentional, if inevitable, clash between evolving social, political, and economic forces. . . .The real story of Tombstone, and of the American West, is far more complex than a cartoonish confrontation between

good guys and bad guys.” GO DOWN TOGETHER: THE TRUE, UNTOLD STORY OF BONNIE AND CLYDE (2009) not only tells the story of the outlaw couple and their cohorts, but also presents a panorama of American culture during the mid-1930s, followed by an account of the legend’s evolution, most notably as presented in Arthur Penn’s award-winning 1967 movie about the outlaw couple, now commemorating its 50th anniversary--a depiction that “is inaccurate in any number of ways” and should be considered as “entertainment, not actual history,” according to Guinn. Like his account of Wyatt Earp and his times, Bonnie and Clyde emerge in Guinn’s narrative as rather ordinary people whose legend misrepresented them, even in their own brief lifetimes. Noting that “Depression-era readers were desperate for entertainment,” Guinn goes on to say that “celebrities reflect their times and cultures” and that “Clyde and Bonnie came to epitomize the edgy daydreams of the economically and socially downtrodden,” a disillusioned group of Americans that “liked the idea of colorful young rebels sticking it to bankers and cops.” Of course, these images continue to haunt us in our own time. MANSON: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHARLES MANSON (2013) is a mesmerizing and chilling interpretation of the Sixties as much as it is a biography of the man who is still incarcerated for murderous acts committed nearly fifty years ago. According to Guinn, “Charles Manson is a product

of the 1960s--and also of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.” In the end “there was nothing mystical or heroic about Charlie--he was an opportunistic sociopath.” We should come to an understanding that the “unsettling 1960s didn’t create Charlie, but they made it possible for him to bloom in full, malignant flower.” In the final analysis, if their can be a final analysis to a story this convoluted, “one theme runs through and defines his life: Charlie Manson was always the wrong man in the right place at the right time,” making him a tragic figure for most of the people he encountered during his life. Anyone interesting in plumbing the depths of the 1960s should read this book. THE ROAD TO JONESTOWN: JIM JONES AND PEOPLES TEMPLE (2017) is Guinn’s latest foray into the underbelly of American history. In so many ways, Jim Jones’ life is eerily similar to that of Manson’s. The events of November 1819, 1979 which led to the mass suicide of Jones’ followers in the jungles of Guyana seem to parallel the visions of Charles Manson, albeit on a much larger scale. The lives of both men--like the lives of Wyatt Earp and Bonnie and Clyde--offer insights into the culture in which they lived, and should be contemplated by anyone interested in modern American history. The frightening fact is that Bonnie and Clyde and Charlie Manson, like Jones, originally had a vision of a better society, but saw that vision turn into a bloodbath. As Guinn observes, “Jim Jones attracted followers by appealing to the best in their nature, a desire for everyone to share equally . . . .It was never the Temple’s agenda to overthrow a government or in any sense force others to live as its members believed they should.” Today, however, we don’t remember the good, but only the evil. “Peoples Temple is considered an example, but not in any positive sense. Kool-Aid rather than equality is what the rest of the world remembers.” In so many ways these four books by Jeff Guinn turn a mirror on us and ask us to contemplate how we and our nation’s history are reflected in its surface. American history, like any nation or individual’s history is never as simple as the story told by our textbooks and our teachers, but is instead a complex and often convoluted journey into the very depths of human nature. Until we meet again next week, I hope you will take some time to become familiar with Jeff Guinn and his books.

theloaferonline.com | May 2, 2017