The Loafer May 30th by The Loafer

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Volume 31 • Issue #26 Publisher Luci Tate

on the cover

Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle

Advertising Dave Carter Patti Barr Paul Kavanaugh Brad Parris Janie Jarvis Renee Taylor

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

22 Stargazer American Space Museum Honors Workers 23 Skies This Week 24 Batteries Not Included Ghost World 26 The Casual Word Morning Splendor 27 Pop Life Alien: Covenant 29 Appalachian Wanderers A.T. Trail Days 30 Mountain Movers Pastor Robbie Hilton Interview 32 Puzzle Page 35 Kelly’s Place Is This What It's All About?

your week’s line-up

Home-Built Summit

Cover Design Bill May

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 16 17 17 20 33 34

RatRod: Home-Built Summit Thursday Jams Continues RatRods in School Native American Culture Festival RatRod Schedule Chalk Art Celebration First Annual Downtown Mile H.R. Gertner @ Acoustic Coffeehouse Five Concerts and a Workshop Wetlands Water Park End of School Bash Bristol's Biggest Block Party Blue Plum 5K/Little Plum Dash War Games Comes to Piney Flats Spotlight Pets Of The Week Things To Do

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Home Built Summit The Loafer is proud to be a co-sponsor of the first RatRod sponsor is the Holston River Brewing Company, and the event to be held in the Tri Cities. The event host and primary events will take place at their facility and campground.

ou may be wondering, what is a RatRod. Essentially, it is a home built vehicle, many of them cars but some motorcycles and boats as well. RatRod aficionados literally use almost anything to build their vehicles. The parts do not have to be original, and most RatRods have parts from 10 or more cars included. Most are customized and can be considered works of art. It is a fascinating subset of car buffs, one that almost everyone will enjoy checking out. Many of the vehicles are equipped to shoot flames up in the air, and there is even a flame throwing contest

Saturday evening – along with a burnout competition. Pretty cool stuff! Bring your own RatRod and join the exhibition – no extra charge for RatRods to participate. While check in can begin as early as Wednesday, the event really gets started on Friday, although the Brewery is having live music on Thursday evening. Admission is only $6, and $1 of each admission goes to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Kids 12 and under are free. Speaking of kids, there are many events for them including inflatables, a Karaoke camp and competition, face painting, a Jr. RatRod bike and wagon show, etc. The kid’s area is chaperoned, so you can let the little ones enjoy themselves while you take in all the vehicles. You might be surprised to see your child in the Kids K a r a o k e competition! The site will

feature many different vendors, including some delicious food options and a parts swap meet. Check the agenda in this issue of The Loafer for all times, events, etc. As a special treat, the Brewery is debuting their new craft beer, a lager called Rusty Gold. Be sure to try one. Adam, the master brewer, tells us that it is going to be a great beer. The Loafer will have a refresh and recharge tent, where you can take a load off your feet for a while and recharge your phone or other device if needed. Stop by, loaf and say hello! Ever wanted to race at the speedway? You can register at RatRod and for $45 you can run 15 laps at BMS on Sunday afternoon. That should be quite interesting. Proceeds from the BMS run will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, so you are actually making a charitable donation as you zoom around the world’s fastest half mile. It’s going to be a great weekend. Come out and enjoy yourself. We guarantee you’ll be fascinated!

By Paul Kavanaugh

Summer Concert Series Continues

abuki is made up of two brothers, two cousins, and a friend who were brought together by their love of producing music. Perez Hilton says, “They’ve got a real laid back, positive vibe that’s infectious.” Jabuki’s pure talent and unique sound has propelled them forward. They released their first single in 2013. Their music has been streamed 5 million times on SoundCloud and has received 4 million views on YouTube. The band uses a combination of jangly guitars, hip-hop beats, and sailing synth rhythms to get the crowd dancing. In 2014, Jabuki toured in Canada, the U.S., and Australia. They just announced plans for a second tour in the U.S. following the release of their debut EP. Jabuki will take the stage at 8 p.m. after opening act Leeda “LYRIC” Jones. Leeda “LYRIC” Jones first began performing on street corners in Asheville, NC where they would always draw a crowd. “The streets is where we love to be. We get so much positive feedback that it pushes us to work harder. This is where we started and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Leeda Jones(Lyric). They’ve cultivated a unique sound and style that is sure

to please any crowd. They perform covers of “Fast Car” and “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman, as well as their catchy originals “Blue Skies” and “So High.” Music will start at 7:00 p.m. The doors and beer garden benefiting Abingdon Main Street open at 6:30 p.m. Food trucks and local vendors will be offering concessions.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on to enjoy the show. Inclement weather updates will be posted on social media, and Wolf Hills Brewery will serve as the rain location. In depth descriptions of the artists can be found at abingdonmusicexperience.com.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Thursday Jams

The Town of Abingdon continues its Thursday Jams Summer Concert 5 Series this week by showcasing a band that have earned the praise of Perez Hilton with their new song “Couch Potato”. Melbourne-based band Jabuki will take the stage at Abingdon Market Pavillion Thursday, June 1.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

RatRods in Schools While researching the RatRod phenomenon I had the opportunity to chat with Craig Lankki of RatRod Magazine. He told me of a very successful program in

Planting New Roots and Harvesting Engaged Students By Paul Kavanaugh

the Charlotte area that gets high school kids involved in making home built cars. I followed up with several folks down there and got the whole story.

not. After a couple rejections, he got the local Applied Technology Center, a magnet school, to get on board, helped by a starter donation he and his wife made. From there the program has expanded to a number of high schools in the area, and there are now 16 or 17 different schools involved. A perfect example is the program at Career Center HS spearheaded by instructor Mike Gaffner. He picked up right away on the skills that building these cars could foster. They started with 27 students on the team, and they had to do everything from planning and design to building to being able to demonstrate their finished product in public. Mike tells me that over the course of this build he saw many kids come out of their shell. Their finished product is called Junkmail - it is an old mail truck turned into a cool RatRod. You can see it for yourself as they are bringing it to the RatRod show next t started with a guy named Jim Harper, a local philanthropist. He had week at Holston River Brewing Company. stumbled across a RatRod at Max’s Speed Shop in Charlotte, was Another local educator, Scott Brown, is equally fascinated by it as it looked like a piece of art to him, and promptly enthusiastic about what these projects are doing for acquired it. Then he got to thinking, creating one of these vehicles students. He mentions the critical thinking and problem requires critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork, all skills he felt were solving skills that are being developed as really major lacking in a majority of the younger generation. So, he started challenging accomplishments. He cited one particular student that schools, whether they had an automotive (what we called shop) curricula or was shy, not outgoing at all. By the end of the project,

he was the spokesman and was appearing in public at events like the local S.T.E.A.M event. Not only do the shop kids get involved, but so do the math students, art students and many others. It takes many skills and different talents to plan and build one of these; just getting the vehicle named is a challenge, so art and marketing students get involved as well as the math kids who need to work out all the computations. Truly it is a team effort, and many of these kids have never been on a team before. These challenges started by Mr. Harper are expanding and bearing significant fruit. This is a good thing for many reasons. You know, as I talk to different garages and repair facilities in our area about The Loafer, I hear the same thing. We can’t handle any more business because we can’t find employees with some skills – but more importantly, the desire to work. In Charlotte, the local RatRod programs will help fill some of these openings. This is something that should get some consideration locally. It is a hit in Charlotte. Some of these educators will be attending our local RatRod gathering. Feel free to chat with them – they will fill your ear with praise for their programs. It’s nice to hear good things about our up and coming generation!

his educational event provides the opportunity for our visitors to experience many facets of Native American culture, particularly that of the Cherokee. The event opens on Saturday, June 3rd, running from 10 am until 8:00 pm; and from 11:30 am until 6 pm on Sunday June 4th. Most activities are held at Fort Watauga, unless it rains. In the event of rain the show will relocate to the Visitors Center. On Saturday evening, a traditional campfire will be held at the far end of the meadow in front of Fort Watauga at 7:00 pm with several guest storytellers. This weekend long festival will feature traditional and contemporary arts and crafts, traditional Native American song and dance, Cherokee storytelling and legends, Native American flute, Cherokee language workshops, and craft demonstrations and sales. A unique feature of the Native American Culture festival is our educational/ demonstration area, located within Fort Watauga. The dance circle is located in the center of the fort, where the popular traditional dance and drum performances take place. In addition, flute music, storytelling, lectures, and so much more take place within the circle, which share native culture and history with our visitors The interior of the fort will also host a variety of excellent demonstrations, which include a children’s blowgun challenge, beadwork, gourd art, pine needle basketry, stone carving, Cherokee language, wood carving, flintknapping, corn shuck dolls , native river cane flutes, pottery, and a replicated Cherokee cabin from the early 19th century with historical reenactors, Mark and Sherry Finchum. Just outside the fort, exceptional Native American arts and crafts will be featured, in addition to ethnic Cherokee food, and a Lakota Tipi exhibit. Admission is $6.00 per adult, $1.00 for children. All proceeds from admissions go to Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, to support this event. This event is made possible by the support of Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, the DoubleTree by Hilton, and the Comfort Inn of Johnson City For information contact Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park at 423543‑5808. www. sycamoreshoalstn.org

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

Native American Culture Festival

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is proud to 7 announce our annual Native American Festival to be held Saturday, and Sunday, June 3rd and 4th.

Thursday June 8 thru Sunday June 11 RatRod arrivals Wed & Thurs 9:00 - 9:00

RatRod Schedule theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

THURSDAY 7:00

FRIDAY 9:00 2:00 5:00 7:00 9:00

SATURDAY 2:00 3:00 5:00 6:30 ish 7:00 8:00 ish 8:45 ish 9:00 10:00 ish

SUNDAY

Live music kicked off by Cory Jeter and Six Strings Under

RatRod lot opens for arrivals and set up Vendors set up window is 9:00 - 11:00 AM Loafer relax and re-charge tent opens Swap meet tent for parts, etc. continues thru 7:00 Saturday Live music on the main stage Asylum Suite on the main stage Kids Karaoke competition Kids Bicycle & Wagon Competition RatRod competition judging throughout the day Overall RatRod winners/awards presentation The burnout competition follows the awards presentation Hillbilly Bad on the main stage Pin up competition with Morgana Divine on the main stage Shooter on the main stage Pin up competition winners announced Flamethrower competition Wyldeheart on the main stage Beard and tattoo competition after first set

8:00 Breakfast opens - available all morning 9:00 Registration for BMS laps (can register throughout the weekend) $45 for 15 laps 1:00 Laps at BMS set to begin 1:00 ish 2:00 Summit closes/Vendor breakdown Chaperoned kids area with inflatables, face painting, Karaoke camp all weekend. Admission is $6 per person. $1 goes to Breast Cancer Foundation. All proceeds from BMS track runs go to Speedway Children's Charities.

At Blue Plum Festival

New to this year’s Blue Plum Festival is the Chalk Art Celebration. Artists of all levels are encouraged to participate in the decoration of Founder’s Park’s sidewalks on Saturday, June 3.

his is an opportunity for local artists to show off a bit of their identity and leave their color on the stepping stones of Blue Plum. Artists are welcome to create an original work, recreate a classic, draw a 3D perception alteration, model a cartoon, or anything else that the right hemisphere of their brains can dream up. All artists should be mindful of children viewers and any inappropriate drawings or advertisements will be washed away. Remember, Blue Plum is the Friendliest Festival in the South. There are four categories of entry: Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12, Emerging Level, and Established Level. The entry fee for Grades 5-8 and 9-12 is $10, and entrants will be provided a set of 24 pastel chalks, the cash prize for the winner chosen in each of these levels is $50. The entry fee for emerging and established levels is $15, they will be provided with 48 chalks and the cash prize for the winner in each of these categories is $100. Sidewalk painting draws inspiration from a 16th century art form developed in Italy where individuals called madonnari traveled between festivals and decorated the sidewalks along their journey. Quite often, the madonnari lived solely from

the donations of street patrons that would toss coins for the artists. While this tradition is coming to Johnson City, this year at Blue Plum, the heads of the artists who participate are safe from the danger of thrown coins and helmets are not necessary for the Chalk Art Celebration. The tradition of sidewalk art holds power and virtue as something that is rarely noticed is given vibrancy and a beauty. Sidewalk art is a reminder that the path we walk can truly be beautiful as we approach a bright future in Johnson City. We hope this thought can help inspire this year’s artists in this year’s theme for the Chalk Art Celebration - A Bright Future. Space is limited and online registration is available at blueplum.org. Same day registration for the event is available (providing there is space still available) Saturday, June 3 at 8:30 am on the large lawn at Founder’s Park and the event itself will begin at 9 am. Artists must finish at 4pm at which time judging will commence. The Chalk Art Celebration is sponsored by Masterpiece Mixers in Johnson City. For more information go to blueplum.org.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Chalk Art Celebration

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

First Annual Downtown Mile Set for National Running Day

The Goose Chase, Johnson City Running Club, Johnson City Turkey Trot and Yee Haw Brewery announced today of the creation of two events that will celebrate National Running Day on Wednesday, June 7th. The Turkeys In Training Kids Clinic will take place at Kermit Tipton Stadium on Saturday, June 3rd. This event will be a running clinic that will highlight topics such as nutrition, running mechanics, pacing, injury prevention and other topics.

he clinic will be 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on that Saturday. The cost is $10 and each participant will receive lunch and a Turkeys in Training t-shirt. Further information on the clinic can be found at www.TurkeysInTraining.com. In addition to the celebration, the First Annual Downtown Mile will be held on Wednesday, June 7 (National Running Day) beginning at 7 p.m. with three races. The Kid’s Run (10 & under) starts at 7 p.m. The Open Race begins at 7:30 p.m. with the Elite Race at 8 p.m. Awards will be given to the top participants in each category with prize money for the top three male and female runners in the Elite Race. The awards ceremony and post race celebration will be held at Yee Haw Brewery. “In 1984, Johnson City was awarded the honor of being

named the #1 Running City in America, ” said Vice-Mayor Jenny Brock, “events like these prove why our community was awarded such an honor. “We are excited to have great partners assist us with this wonderful event,” says Race Director, Karen Hubbs. “We are blessed to have so many running groups in the Tri-Cities area. The Goose Chase is simply honored to be involved with this new event.” Event partners include the Johnson City Turkey Trot, Johnson City Running Club, Tri-Cities Turtles, The Wellness Center, ETSU’s Center of Excellence, We Run Events, Fleet Feet, Quantum Leap and Yee Haw Brewing. For more information about the 1-Mile USATF-certified course, award categories, and prizes, parking areas, and

road c l o s u r e s please visit www. DowntownMileJC.com. For more information about The Goose Chase, visit www.TheGooseChase.org and like The Goose Chase on Facebook and Instagram.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

@ Acoustic Coffeehouse

H.R. Gertner theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

H.R. Gertner, currently on tour behind his most recent release, “Too Damn Heavy”, spins tales of love lost, found, and lost again at the Acoustic Coffeehouse Wednesday May 31st, 2017.

riting and performing the kind of songs that makes all them city folks wish they were born in the country, and makes all them country folks wish they were born in the city, H.R.’s unique blend of rock sensibilities, songwriter wordsmith, and folk traditions with take you away from your troubles for the evening. Born in Georgia and bred in the swamps of north Florida, H.R.’s music carries with it a sense of the Deep South steeped in the tradition of southern gothic writing, haunted by back roads with no end, love with no chance, and living just on the edge of “polite society”, all as a means to make it to tomorrow. H.R. has shared the stage with several of your favorite artists touring today, including: Cory Brannon, American

Aquarium, Ben Prestige, Lance Howell (Big Shoals), Ashley Heath, Jimbo Mathis, Roadkill Ghost Choir, Wax Wings, and many more. H.R.Gertner has released 13 records for Rattle Trap Records since 2012: 10 solo folk releases and three with his rock band The Throws. H.R. played over 100 shows per year for both 2013 and 2014; in 2015 he slowed down on the road, but kept busy in the studio. After a few years off the road H.R. will be returning to southern highways in the dog days of summer 2017. Come out Wednesday at 8:00pm to see what Chris Martin with the Atlanta Examiner deemed as #8 out of the Top 20 shows in Georgia in 2012 http://www.examiner.com/article/takea-look-back-at-the-music-from-2012 Regarding

H.R.’s set he stated that, “H.R. Gertner out of Gainesville, FL took the stage and reeled of a collection of original Americana laced tunes. Armed with his acoustic guitar Gertner spun light-hearted tales of love, ladies, and beer. Playing music from his multiple releases it was the songs “Mexican Beer”, “Steal Cars” and “Paid On The 15th” that highlighted his set. His music is worth checking out and If he ever rolls through Atlanta again you need to check him out.” http:// www.examiner.com/review/thebohannons-show-atlanta-how-torock H.R. would love to see you at the Acoustic Coffeehouse; enjoy some food, some tunes, pick up a copy of his newest release, or just stop in and say hey! Get ready for the show by checking out H.R.’s music. His digital albums are always “pay what you want”, so support independent artists today and hop over to H.R.’s bandcamp page: https://hrgertner. bandcamp.com/

Storyteller Geraldine Buckley, an English expatriate who makes her home in the United States, will be Jonesborough’s next storyteller in residence.

he latest world-class performer in the International Storytelling Center’s live performance series, Buckley will tell an array of personal tales. “I specialize in telling true personal stories that make people laugh and think,” she says. “But occasionally I will toss in a folk tale that’s pertinent. My goal is to make people laugh long and hard, and then realize that they’ve been moved. It’s a balance.” “I’ve always managed to stumble into adventures, so that’s what I talk about,” she says. Her last job before becoming a storyteller full time was as a chaplain in a prison—the largest men’s facility in the state of Maryland. “Some people need to be in prison, and it’s the best place for them,” she observes. “But the majority have just done something stupid, and they want to do their time and get out. The problem is people have a strange view of prison. It’s as though a snapshot has been taken at the worst time in someone’s life, and that’s what they become known by.” In Jonesborough, Buckley’s matinee performances will run daily June 6 - 10, Tuesday through Saturday, at the International Storytelling Center’s Main Street facility. The storyteller will also host a workshop, “Rock the Flock,” on Thursday, June 8, at 9:30 a.m. Buckley, who is an ordained minister, has designed the workshop for “preachers, Sunday school teachers, chaplains, counselors, and volunteers”—almost anyone, pretty much—who wants to “learn how to

use stories as an outreach tool.” From formal tales like sermons to the impromptu stories elicited in counseling sessions, Buckley plans to offer a technique for every occasion. Meanwhile, she’s thrilled about her imminent return to Jonesborough. “It’s a wonderful setting,” she says. “It’s really a dream for a storyteller to be able to come and do five shows and connect with an audience who loves stories. It’s blissful.” Tickets for all matinees are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Ticketholders for any performance 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 800-952-8392 ext. 222 or 423-913-1276.

theloaferonline.com | March 28, 2017

Five Concerts and a Workshop A Week with Geraldine Buckley

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Wetlands Water Park End of School Bash

Nothing signifies summer in Jonesborough more than are free on Thursday, June 1st. Located at 1523 Persimmon Wetlands Water Park. Celebrate the beginning of summer with Ridge Park in Jonesborough, Wetlands is in its second decade tickets reduced to just $3 per person and children 3 and under of providing great, safe, outdoor family fun.

ark goers can plan to spend an entire day at Wetlands, enjoying three flume water slides, two family otter slides and a lazy river. Along with the slides and the pool, there is a zero depth pool, which allows access to people of all ages, particularly the little ones, who can enjoy additional features such as water bubblers, spray features, dump buckets and a rain tree. Swimming builds up an appetite and Wetlands boasts a full-service café. There is also a beach volleyball court, picnic tables and a massive sun deck. Matt Townsend, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, mentioned some other surprises in store for Wetlands this year. "This year, we have added some great special events. These will be held after hours and will be announced on our social media. We have some very exciting stuff coming up. Stay tuned." Wetlands also hosts private parties for companies and organizations. The water park is also the perfect venue for hosting summertime birthday parties, with group discounts for parties of ten or more guests.

The water park also offers swimming lessons throughout the season for $60. This provides students of all ages a great opportunity to take advantage of the physical fitness benefits of swimming, which has been proven to be a healthy, all around activity. Wetlands provides a way to make swimming a part of the community’s regular routine this year by offering affordable rates on daily passes and an even better bargain with their season passes. The daily ticket rate is $12 for adults and $9 for children and seniors with children 3 and under being free. For Sunday, tickets for all ages are $9.00 while 3 and under free. Everyday tickets become half price at 3 p.m. Season pass rates are $80 for adults and $60 for children ages 4 – 12 and seniors 55 and over, a season pass will pay for itself after the sixth visit to the park. For more information, call Wetlands at 423-753-1553, visit their website at wetlandsjonesborough.com. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Wetlands Water Park.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Bristol’s Biggest Block Party

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Live music, food trucks, fireworks, and more

The City of Bristol, Tennessee is ready to kick off the summer season Block Party will take place on Thursday, June 1st beginning at 5:00 with an event that the whole family will enjoy. Bristol’s Biggest PM at the Downtown Center, and there is no cost for admission.

he block party coincides with the opening night of the Full Moon Jam summer concert series, now in its 21st year. Live music will be provided by local favorites Southern 76, who will take the stage at 5:00 with their signature blend of country and classic southern rock. Then, at 7:00, Entice will heat up with stage with a blend of hits from yesterday and today that will have the crowd dancing in the street. While the adults enjoy the music, the kids will have plenty of fun activities as well, with inflatables to bounce in, clowns, balloon animals, bubble tables, face painting, sidewalk chalk, and hula hoop contests. All this fun is certain to stir up a few appetites, and fortunately, there will be plenty of options available on site from Food Truck Junction, featuring delicious fare from Caribbean Grill, Catering-4u, and Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ, plus some cold treats to beat the heat from Kona Ice and Jolly Wally Ice Cream. As an added bonus, a limited number of hot dogs will be available to the first

few hundred guests in attendance. Last, but certainly not least, once the sun goes down, the party will literally go out with a bang as the first fireworks of the season light up the night sky just after 9:00. All this, plus a few very special surprises, can be found at Bristol’s Biggest Block Party on Thursday, June 1st, starting at 5:00 PM at the Downtown Center, 810 State Street, Bristol, TN. This event is made possible by 98.5 WTFM, the Bristol Herald Courier, and Food City. Motorists should be aware that this block of State Street will be closed to thru traffic on this day for stage setup. For more information about the event, please contact Terrie Talbert, Community Relations Director, at 423-764-4171 or tsmith-talbert@bristoltn.org.

he Blue Plum 5K run/walk will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Founder’s Park, followed by the Little Plum Dash at 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Johnson City Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center. Other sponsors of the 2017 festival are Wild Wing Café, Yee Haw Brewing, JRH Brewing, City of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University, PEPSI, People’s Community Bank, Main Street Pizza Company, Carnegie Hotel, Doubletree Hotel and Commercial Bank. The event is powered by the Blue Plum Organization. Electronic timing is provided by We Run Events. Participants are invited to stay at Founder’s Park following the 5K event for live music and food as part of the Blue Plum Festival. Pre-registration is $20, and kids 12 and under can run the 5K and Little Plum Dash for free but not receive a t-shirt. Registration can be completed by visiting https://www.athlinks.com/event/blue-plum-fast-5k-runwalk-40899. Early packet can be picked up on Thursday, June 1, at Fleet Feet Sports, 302 Buffalo Street. Packets will be available on Friday, June 2, at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion. For more information about the Blue Plum 5K/Little Plum Dash, visit www. blueplum.org, under the “Blue Plum” tab.

esources on the frontlines are scarce, forcing the Taliban and ANA to send troops into the harsh terrain outside of the battle to gain more resources. Yes, it’s the third Ghundy Ghar sponsored by GSF Airsoft in Piney Flats. It takes place on Sat. June 3rd, 2017, and is a Day/Night event (Camping Available night of event). You can register on line. Location is the GSF Outdoor Airsoft Field. All attending, MUST check-in at GSF Airsoft Shop BEFORE going to the field! You will check-in and receive the events patch at the shop. Call for more information, 423-391-0121.

17 theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

The annual Blue Plum 5K/Little Plum Dash will be held Friday, June 2, as part of the 2017 Blue Plum Festival.

Come to Piney Flats

Little Plum Dash

War Games

Blue Plum 5K

The year is 2017 and tensions in Ghundy Ghar have escalated to an alltime high. Skirmishes are turning to steady siege lines and both sides are fighting to maintain key locations.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Spotlight

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.

- TUESDAY - May 30th -

- FRIDAY - June 2nd -

Wealth of Knowledge Men Sleepy Owl Brewery Stemwinder Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill Downtown Country Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria Asylum Suite Holston River Brewing Company Kelli Frances Corrado / Julian Morena Music with Boo Reefa Acoustic Coffeehouse

Hillybilly Hawaiian Beach Party!! Music by Adam Graybeal’s Hillbilly Soul Studio Brew Nightshift Band Lion’s Club Hunter Grigg and the Bosses Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria David Caldwell Our House Restaurant Time Further Out Music on the Square Crazy Like Lexi Sonny’s Cafe Mark Mahoney Gypsy Circus Cider Company The Bosses & Hunter Grigg Live Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria Shooter Band Elizabethton Elks Lodge The Phoenix Band CJ’s Sports Bar Mick Kyte & Double Shot Holston River Brewing Company Borderline Marker 2 Grille Railway Express Country Club Bar & Grill Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse Benny Wilson Band & Ivy Road Broad Street Kingsport Twilight Alive The Deathwells Earth By Train w/ Anthony Wayne Acoustic Coffeehouse

- WEDNESDAY - May 31st Jeff Anders & Friends Wild Wing Cafe Open Mic The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room Open Mic Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria H.R. Gertner / Kristen Ford Acoustic Coffeehouse

- THURSDAY - June 1st Kieran Kane & Ryana Gellert Down Home Jam w/ NRD Wellington’s Restaurant Below 7 Quaker Steak & Lube Southern Countrymen Band Winged Deer Park Lakeside Concert Series Cameron Tate Model City Tap House Open Mic Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria Dennis Coffey Art in the Heart Gallery Singer Songwriter Night w/ Mick Kyte Holston River Brewing Company Jon King & Ryan Asbury Boomershine Pizza Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse Jakubi Abingdon Market Pavillion Jordan Copas Acoustic Coffeehouse

- FRIDAY - June 2nd Rotting Plum Festival The Hideaway Loose Leaves / Sterling Springs / Part of the Problem Capone’s Wyldeheart 50Fifty Sports Tavern

- SATURDAY - June 3rd Born Again Heathens w/ Demon Waffle Capone’s Hillbilly Soul 50Fifty Sports Tavern Drivin N Cryin Wolf Hills Brewing Sundown Band Mosheim Fun Days Model City Wrecking Crew at Marker “2” Grille Nightshift Band Moose Lodge Southern Boyz and Katelyn Baker Silver Spur Derrick Ryan Studio Brew Cambium Sleepy Owl Brewery

- SATURDAY - June 3rd Kaitlyn Baker The Silver Spur Appalachian Trail Bluegrass Band Capitol Theatre Thursday Night Boys Covered Bridge Days John Paul Riddle Our House Restaurant Southern Countrymen Band David Thompson’s Produce Adam Graybeal & Hillbilly Soul Sonny’s Cafe Shooter Band Jericho Temple 2pm • The Showpalace 7pm Soul Swagger CJ’s Sports Bar C-2 & The Brothers Reed Holston River Brewing Company Model City Wrecking Crew Down Home Junkyard Dogz Bears Bar Railway Express Country Club Bar & Grill Circus Mutts Bone Fire Smokehouse Larry Sigmon & Martha Spencer Carter Family Fold Skye Steel w/ Evil English Archaic Knowledge Acoustic Coffeehouse

- SUNDAY - June 4th Ivy Road at Marker “2” Grille Live Music Bone Fire Smokehouse The Tool Shed, Lily Kiara w/Jimmy Robinson Acoustic Coffeehouse The Dusty Travelers Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria Travis O' Quinn Sonny's Cafe

- MONDAY - June 5th Open Mic Acoustic Coffeehouse

- TUESDAY - June 6th Benny Wilson Band Holston River Brewing Company

for show time & more details, visit

theloaferonline.com

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

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

Bear's Bar 4460 Highway 421 Bristol TN 423-502-1975

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

Painter Creek Marina 766 Painter Creek Rd Bristol TN 423-878-5755

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

Boomershine's Pizza 4079 Highway 394 Bluff Cit 423-575-7500

KARAOKE

Bristol Station & Brews 41 Piedmont Avenue Bristol VA 276-608-1220

Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr. Bristol VA 276-466-4100 Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN

TUESDAY Karaoke w/ Tina and West at Dawg House Tavern Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Logans Karaoke with Top shelf 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 at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke w/ Top Shelf Entertainment at Painter Creek Marina Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at New Beginning’s Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzaria ***********************

Studio Brew 221 Moore Street Bristol VA 423-360-3258

FRIDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Los Amigos Karaoke w/ Shane Rouse at Bear’s Bar 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 ***********************

21 theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

SPOTLIGHT DIRECTORY

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

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

American Space Museum Honors Workers

While most space museums focus on the honors the humble workers who have made our astronauts and spaceships that have pioneered country the world leader in space exploration. the unknown, there is one unique complex that

I Stargazer

By Mark Marquette since 1996 stargazermarq@ gmail.com

n Titusville, Florida, where many Apolloera space workers lived, the American Space Museum & Astronaut Walk of Fame has its emphasis on those who fabricated the spaceships, twisted the bolts on the launch gantries and flipped the switches to activate the complex systems that together made the United States space program the pioneer in exploration of our Solar System the past 50 years. Heading to Disneyworld this Summer? You’ll not be disappointed to pull off I-95 and head down Route U.S. 1 to the American Space Museum and the astronaut monument park in Titusville. The outdoor tribute to astronauts is free, and for just $10 bucks you can be up close and personal with some one-of-a kind artifacts of the space program. The American Space Museum (ASM) is unlike any Smithsonian or astronaut museum you’ve been to. In fact, it is more like a space geek “man cave” with an over-abundance of relics from Kennedy Space Center donated by space workers, many who lived in the Titusville area in the 1960s and ‘70s. The NASA swag will cause a sensory overload for the die-hard space lover. And that’s a good thing. The ASM is in transition to future upgrades of displays and showcases. And it is very interactive, including weekly Saturday programs for students as part of the national movement called Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). The Astronaut Walk of Fame was born out of Titusville’s desire to honor the brave men and women who pioneered America’s efforts in the 1960s Space Race against the former Soviet Union. Hand prints in bronze of the first groups of astronauts were made to replicate those of the famous Hollywood walk of actors, and they are featured at the Mercury and Gemini “Space View Park” along the banks of the Indian River, overlooking the famous launch pads of Cape Kennedy. The tribute continues to wrap around downtown Titusville with handprints of many Apollo astronauts surrounding a statue of the famous “A” logo of the Moon program. There you’ll see an incredible life-size bronze likeness of President John F. Kennedy, frozen in time during the famous speech he delivered to challenge Americans to go to the Moon by the end of 1969. Which NASA workers did twice that year. And the most recent addition to the Astronaut Walk of Fame is, of course, a marble, four-sided monument to the Space Shuttle orbiters and crews. Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour, Atlantis, and the test Shuttle Enterprise are honored in unique graphics depicting all operational phases.

Mixed between the Apollo and Shuttle monuments are a halfdozen, four-sided columns that are the tribute to the workers who laid their hands and minds on the development of America’s space program. For a $100 donation to the AMS, these unsung heroes of NASA have their names, job and employer etched on a plaque for posterity. But one of these space worker columns has a sad ring to it, the tribute to those NASA contractors who perished in the line of duty. Some died in tragic falls off gantries and the iconic Vehicular Assembly Building. Others perished when exposed. Several were killed in vehicle accidents at the space centers in Florida and Houston, Texas. These deceased space workers gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice for space exploration, just like the famous astronauts who died in Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. The outdoor Astronaut Walk of Fame can be visited anytime for free, as many enjoy lunch or an evening stroll amid the shrines to Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle and space workers. But the nuts and bolts of the more than 500,000 people who made space exploration a cornerstone of American ingenuity are inside the American Space Museum a few blocks away. In transition to upgrade and expand, the American Space Museum has a definite mission direction: to preserve achievement and inspire innovation. That mantra includes the preservation of the history of the US space program; to honor our nation’s astronauts and aerospace innovators; to educate current and future generations about the sacrifice and cooperation of the early space program; and to inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and explorers who will take our nation in new adventures in space. The ASM has working consoles you can sit in front of from the Space Shuttle control room. There is the actual firing room from the Atlas Launch Pad 36A, and more launch pad electronics to thrill any space geek. There are detailed replicas of the Shuttle launch pad and Kennedy Space Center displayed among the flight hardware of spacesuits, gloves, manuals, access badges and all sorts of space flown memorabilia. There are three rooms dedicated to unique items from Mercury, Gemini and Apollo—too much space stuff to name. But John Glenn’s hardhat and Gus Grissom’s NASA coveralls are super cool to see. One room is a tribute to the fallen astronauts of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. You don’t have to be a space geek to enjoy the American Space Museum and Astronaut Walk of Fame. The entire family will find something to marvel upon. And the visit will leave you with a greater appreciation of not just the famous astronauts, but the blue and white color workers who made America the leader in all things outer space.

ummer is officially three weeks away, and we are already experiencing the benefits of extended daylight to enjoy our outdoor activities. The Moon makes a big impression this week as it is First Quarter heading to the full phase next week. The Moon makes a low arc across the southern Zodiac, tinting the globe with golden light as it filters through the Earth’s atmosphere. This honey colored Moon might be responsible for the social term “honeymoon,” known for the frolicking nights of newlyweds married in the popular month of June.

Tuesday, May 30 The moonlight doesn’t blot out the famous 2nd magnitude stars that make up the Big Dipper, high in the north. Pointing to Polaris at the North Pole, this asterism of the constellation Ursa Major is fun to move as the hours pass, so check it out a couple times each night and see the celestial merry-go-round caused by the Earth turning eastward. Wednesday, May 31 On this 1975 date in space history, the European Space Agency was formed. Forty-two years later, ESA is a major player in the International Space Station, and has had several highly successful interplanetary missions in the now defunct Venus Express and the 14-year continuing mission of orbiter Mars Express.

Thursday, June 1 Lots of early-morning risers have been asking me “What’s the bright star in the east before sunrise?” That’s planet Venus, which dazzled us all Winter in the early evening when people where asking me the same question! Watch the second planet hugging the eastern horizon from 5 am until lost in twilight glare around 6:30 am. Friday, June 2 The Moon looms all week, and it begs you to look up. If you have any kind of telescope—or even binoculars—turn them skyward and check out the craters, mountains and seas of frozen lava. You will be amazed. Download a Moon map and become familiar with “road map” of our celestial neighbor. Saturday, June 3 Jupiter is directly below the gibbous Moon

tonight, a beautiful sight. Watch as the night progresses and the Moon moves eastward its own diameter, one-half degree, an hour and away from the king of planets. Sunday, June 4 White star Spica is below the Moon tonight, our closest neighbor in space having moved 12.5 degrees from Jupiter Saturday night. The Earth is rotating eastward at 1,100 mph, while the Moon is moving eastward at 2,100 mph, making one circuit around Earth every 28.5 days. Monday, June 5 Saturn clears the eastern horizon at 10 p.m. in the feet of Ophiuchus the Serpent Handler, the undeclared 13th constellation of the Zodiac. Between Scorpius and Sagittarius, the ringed world will be the star of our late Summer and Autumn skies.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

THIS WEEK

SKIES

Celestial events in the skies for the week of May 30-June 5, 2017 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. 23

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Ghost World

I was 17 when I first saw the movie “Ghost World,” directed by Terry Zwigoff and adapted from the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes. The film was released in 2001 to critical praise and little fanfare at the box office. One of those cool, weird, wonderful films that never plays in a theater anywhere near you.

I Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com

t wasn’t till the film came out on home video in early 2002 that I saw it-thanks be to Popcorn Video, my hometown video store, for always stocking all kinds of cool, non-mainstream titles that I devoured. The Criterion Collection has released a new blu-ray of “Ghost World”--the first time the film has been released in HD--a blu-ray that was supervised and approved by Terry Zwigoff. It was a great joy to revisit the film for the first time in a number of years. “Ghost World” is a tale of teenage angst through the eyes of two new high school graduates, Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson). Enid is a misfit and proud of it, barely identifying with anyone else in her class. Enid is cynical about everything, so much so it starts to wear down on Rebecca. Enid finds comfort in a kindred spirit, a sad-loner record collector Seymour (Steve Buscemi), who is many years older than her. “Ghost World” captures that perfect feeling when you’ve graduated from high school, you’re told you’re an adult, but you have no idea what comes next or what’s supposed to happen. Especially if you never felt connected to anyone else you went to school with. It seems strange to think of 2001 as the “pre-internet” era, but in a way it was. It was before we could connect with everyone so readily and find that we aren’t as alone as we think--which I still hold as the true gift of the internet. As I said I was 17 when I first saw “Ghost World” and the movie hit me right in the emotional breadbox. Also, it’s a very, very funny movie and I loved it the first time I saw it. I immediately clicked with that feeling of looking at everyone else around you and wondering “How in the hell do I belong here?” “Ghost World” is such a fantastic film, with a knockout cast rounded out by Illeana Douglas, Bob Balaban and Terri Garr. All working from a fantastic, Oscar nominated script written by Clowes and Zwigoff. Criterion’s new blu-ray of “Ghost World” features a 4K digital restoration made from a 35mm interpositive, supervised by Zwigoff. A 5.1 DTS-HD track is included-and it sounds amazing. Bonus features are plenty. A new commentary track with Zwigoff, Clowes, and producer Lianne Halfon is included, as well as new interviews with Birch, Johansson, and Douglas. A full excerpt of the song "Jaan Pehechan Ho" from the Bollywood film “Gumnaam” is included--it’s the number that Enid dances to during the opening credits--optional commentary is provided for the excerpt as well. People have been clamoring for “Ghost World” to make its blu-ray debut, and Criterion has done an amazing job with the beloved film-the blu-ray features wonderful cover art made especially for the release by Daniel Clowes. “Ghost World” is not the kind of film made for a mainstream audience, and that’s the point. It’s one of those cherished gems that you hold close to your heart. Roger Ebert in his review of the film said “I want to hug this movie” and I do too. This one comes highly, highly recommended. See you next week.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Morning Splendor

The Casual Word

By Langley Shazor Follow Langley at TheCasualWord

“

Songs and sonnets Come from you Inspiration My muse Glowing in the morning light Dawn sparkles Against your skin The first glimpse of celestial beams Caress every curve Entangled beautifully With the aura you emit So alluring Even the waning eyes of night's guardian Strain for one last glimpse Earthly starlight A radiance Orbital bodies seek to emulate Efforts not gone unnoticed At best They can only share space with you As I do In awe of the natural elegance Of your captivating Exquisiteness

The Loafer is great for us local loafers who like to have community info all in one place." Wendy S.

Aliens: Covenant

Some of the most horrifying creatures in movie history aliens from the "Alien" film franchise are back in "Alien: are back on the big screen at your local theater. The Covenant", and I couldn't be happier. (Rated R) 4 Aliens (out of 4)

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com

he new film is a sequel to the 2012 film "Prometheus", and a prequel to the 1979 film "Alien". Those familiar with the franchise know the creatures are terrifying and have extremely bad attitudes. Just imagine a land dwelling great white shark crossed with a pit viper and you will get the picture. The aliens have a special way of "breeding" that is certainly unforgettable. When they hatch from an egg as a facehugger, they will attach to the face of a host and gestate inside the host until they burst out of the hosts chest. Shocked audiences were first introduced to this chest busting in "Alien". The new film featuring the creatures begins 10 years after the ending in "Prometheus", and introduces us to a newly-activated synthetic (an android) who names himself David (Michael Fassbender), who we first experienced in the film "Prometheus". Flash forward to the year 2104, and David's synthetic double, named Walter, is on board the colonization ship Covenant and headed to the remote planet Origae-6. Walter is in charge of watching after the hibernating crew and the ship during the long journey. During the flight the ship is hit by a neutrino burst that damages the ship and kills some of the colonists. As a result of the disaster, Walter must wake up the crew for assistance. As the crew is repairing the ship, they pick up a strange transmission from a nearby unknown planet and discover it appears even more suited for colonization. Sooner than you can say "Danger Will Robinson", the crew is headed for the newly discovered planet. When they arrive at the planet they send down an exploration team which includes Walter, and soon the action kicks into high gear. Strangely enough,

the beautiful planet appears to be void of life. Or is it? After two crew members suffer horrible deaths due to a mysterious spore infection, Walter and the others are rescued by...David! It should come as no surprise that David's ship, last seen in "Prometheus" crashed on the planet with his co-pilot Elizabeth Shaw on board. However, what has happened on the planet since David and Elizabeth crashed there is a surprise. I will not give any details away, other than to say we see the origin of the alien creatures, called Xenomorphs, and it was shocking. When the film moves to the newly discovered planet, the action kicks into high gear, and never stops. The humans, along with the two synthetics battle the creatures, but one character is not what he is pretending to be, and this aspect adds to the fun of the film. There are plenty of "gross out" moments typical of this series of films, and a strong female character, Daniels Branson (Katherine Waterston) is happily on hand to remind us of the character Ripley, one of the best female action heroines in movie history. Director Ridley Scott knows just how to handle the aliens and actors to perfection. The film is intense and thrilling, and left me wanting to re-watch both "Prometheus" and "Alien". The actors are all wonderful in their roles, with Fassbender having the joyous time of playing two character who get to fight in an amazing brawl. I am happy to report this film is on par with "Alien" and "Aliens", and left me wanting more. For a frightening time at the movies, hop on board the thrilling cinematic flight that is "Aliens: Covenant".

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

A.T. Trail Days Across America, the month of May marks the conclusion of school, the end of those constant spring rains, and the start of the summer vacation season. For those of us here in the Tri-Cities region, it heralds the approach of a favorite festival just across the border in Virginia. Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Wanderers

By Jason & Daniel Worley jdworley@ theloaferonline.com

nlike some communities who are indifferent to the trail’s passage through their neighborhood, the welcoming folks of Damascus have melded the famed footpath with their local culture and earned the proud title of “Trail Town, USA.” Bisected by both the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail, the city has become an outdoor recreation destination. Outfitters, bread and breakfasts, and hostels line the streets and welcome those seeking adventure, whether on the trails or within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The city began hosting the Trail Days festival back in 1976 as a way to celebrate not only the trail itself, but also all its hikers, past and present, and those who work hard every year to preserve the trail for all to enjoy. The Trail Days Festival is scheduled every year the weekend after Mothers Day, with this year’s 31st Trail Days having taken place between the dates of May 19-21. For hikers, the festival marks a well-earned rest and time to celebrate after tackling the highest mountains along the trail’s entire length. For the rest of us “normal” citizenry, the fair gives us a chance to peer into a world we may not know much about. More than likely, we will walk away with a better knowledge and sense of gratitude not only for those who steward the trail, but also for the fantastic natural landscape the A.T. passes through within our region. From day one, a plethora of different activities are available to catch almost anyone’s interest. From BBQ, bluegrass concerts, and a farmers’ market to raffles and fly-fishing lessons, you’d

Days draws thousands to the small town of Damascus each year. Located just thirty minutes from Bristol, the community is an important stop on the Appalachian Trail for many of the hikers who trek through on their way to the rocky peaks of Katahdin.

need ten heads and twice as many feet to sample everything that’s packed into the weekend. Families might be interested in taking a guided nature hike along a short section of the A.T. to identify different flowers, animals, and trees. Those who like competition can sign up to take part in the corn hole tournament or eating contest. Educational offerings this past festival included several guided edible and medicinal walks, lectures on the psychology of A.T. Thru-Hikers, and several talks by those veteran hikers. Birding classes taught festival-goers how to identify their favorite birds just by sound. Another talk sought to inform would-be hikers with info they need to know before hitting the trail, such as permits, costs, rules, and regulations, as well as the impact and strain that increased use has put on the trail in recent years. Saturday always marks the three biggest highlights of the festival: The Trail Days Annual Hiker Parade, a charity auction, and also the Hiker Talent Show. The parade is led by organizations such as the Boys and Girl Scouts, trail maintenance clubs, and local law enforcement. Soon after come the winners of the Miss Trail Days Beauty Pageant. Afterwards come the dozens and sometimes hundreds of hikers. Here’s where the fun begins, as it’s become a tradition to try and soak many of the hikers with water guns as they pass by. Some don’t take it without a fight of their own, so be forewarned if you are there to just watch: you might get wet. The Auction sees donations by local businesses,

companies, and outfitters (including our favorite Blue Blaze Shuttle!) in order to raise funds for The Place Hostel. This nonprofit run by the First United Methodist Church of Damascus offers shelter to A.T. hikers passing through the area and is dependent entirely on donations. Wrapping things up, the talent show offers those hikers passing through a chance to shine and show off the skills they know, whether it be a skill they already knew or something they picked up while cut off from civilization. While this year’s festival is already over, be sure to make plans to attend next year. The dates are set for the 18th through the 20th. You’ll have a great time to be sure, and who knows? It might just become another of your favorite yearly traditions. Before ending this week’s article, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who shared their Dollywood stories with us! The lucky winner of two Dollywood tickets is…Jill Mullis! Congratulations Jill and thank you again to everyone who participated. Keep reading Appalachian Wanderers for more opportunities to win in the future!

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Pastor Robbie Hilton: The Interview

Mountain Movers

By Brian Bishop bbishop@ theloaferonline.com

magine if you will, a job that requires you to speak in front of large crowds multiple times a week. Would that make you nervous? Imagine how much tougher it would be if you were supposed to be an expert on every nuance of the subject matter. Long story short, hug

your pastor next time you go to church and thank them. In the meantime, here is a pastor you need to meet. Robbie Hilton and his family have been in local ministry for many years in our region and well beyond. Take a minute to hear his story. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you did.

BRIAN: First of all, thanks for taking time to talk with me so folks can know you better. The best place to start is the beginning, will you talk a little about what it was like for you growing up and how that shaped you? ROBBIE: Â I was born in the old Johnson City medical center in 1978. At that time my parents were traveling up and down the East Coast ministering in different churches and as soon as I was born I hit the road with them. We didn't really have a home but we were so blessed to have many friends and many churches and family members who would help us along the way. I was six years old when my parents moved back to Tennessee to start Calvary Church. At that time I didn't know we didn't have much. I was loved so much that the lack of things was a non-issue. God has been so faithful to my family.

here that are so special to you? ROBBIE: I love the people of this area. I grew up in Elizabethton. I went to Hunter Elementary and Elizabethton High School. I love the mountains, I love the fact that we get a taste of all four seasons. It's home. So, I'm really grateful that God has given me the opportunity to serve in the place and with the people I love so much.

BRIAN: Family is a huge part of your life and you have a really great one. Talk some about your family and why that part of your life means so much. ROBBIE: My parents are my heroes! They have truly lived a life of faith. Following the call of God wherever it has lead them. My wife is from Pennsylvania and left everything she was familiar with to come here and start a family with me. She is everything to me. She's the BRIAN: You are a truly gifted pastor and could choose pretty much most incredible wife and mother and our lives are forever changed any location you want. What is it about the Tri Cities and the people because of her. Our kids are amazing! Chloe, Judah, Aaliyah and

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Oliver fill our days with ball games and concerts and we love every minute of it. Family is my priority and I believe if I'm a good dad and husband I'll be a good pastor. BRIAN: I ask people this a lot because it is a foundational question, but it obviously has greater significance in this case. Will you please talk about your faith and the journey that has led you to where you are? ROBBIE: I had a great childhood but I came to a point where I had to know God for myself. Discovering how much God loves me and what Jesus did for me

became really personal around the age of 17. I wanted to play basketball in college and things were just not working out the way I wanted them to. I had to surrender my plans to Him and allow him to do what He wanted to do with my life. Giving God control of my life was the greatest decision I've ever made. BRIAN: There is only one way to end this. Calvary church is absolutely on fire for God and there is so much going on that people need to get plugged in to. What are some current events and how can people get connected? ROBBIE: I'm so excited about what God is doing through the church. In June we are excited about our Vacation Bible School that begins on June 11 and runs through the 15. You can go to our website www.visitcalvary. com and register for that. It's open to the community. We have a backpack drive that will begin in June so that we can help kids starting school this fall. So much is happening and the best is yet to come.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Answers on page 34

This week we have some of the cutest kitties! They will be ready for adoption soon. There are also many adult cats ready for adoption now. Adult cat adoptions are half price in May!

Gorda is a 2 year old Pit mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. Such a sweet and loving dog! Large dog adoptions are half price in May!

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

33 theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

PETS

OF THE WEEK

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

THINGS TO DO Blood Drive Marsh Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the area locations. Visit http:// tinyurl.com/n4aujx9 to find a location near you. In addition to scheduled blood drives, donors are welcome at Marsh Regional’s collection centers: 111 W. Stone Drive, Suite 300, Kingsport, 2428 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City and 1996 W. State St., Bristol. For more information about scheduling a blood drive at a local business, church, school or community organization, please call 423-408-7500, 423-652-0014 or 276-679-4669 or visit www. marshblood.com. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Senior Services seeking Zumba instructor Senior Services at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., is seeking a Zumba instructor to teach classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15-10:15 a.m., May 16 through Aug. 10. Instructors are required to have current certifications in Zumba or Zumba Gold and CPR and must carry liability insurance. Please contact Lauren Fowler at 423-4614852 or lfowler@johnsoncitytn. org for more information. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Casual Word Adult Creative Writing Class Join us for a free, fun, engaging, and different look into writing. In this class, we will not focus on structure, form, or rules, but on the freedom of writing. It is the goal of this class to open the mind to its full creative potential by allowing participants to write what they want, how they want to write it. Sessions will be student lead; we will engage in topics and

and Archives. The Children’s Summer Reading Program will continue through July 20. Children are encouraged to participate in the Summer Reading Club and to register at the library or online at www.jcpl. net. For more information about this free program or other Youth Services programs, please call 423-434-4458.

7:00 at the Downtown Kingsport Association, 229 Broad Street, Kingsport. For more information, email birdingkingsport@gmail.com or check out Birdingkingsport.org.

Greater Tri-Cities and East TN continues its campaign to recruit “100 Mentors in 100 Days”. The campaign began May 1st and will go through mid-August. During the 100 days, BBBS strives to raise awareness of the need for more volunteers to step up and become “Bigs” and decrease the wait time for children on the waiting list to be matched with a caring and safe mentor. During the campaign, there are several ways YOU can help make the 100 Mentors in 100 Days recruitment campaign a success. First, you can become a Big Brother or Big Sister; it only takes a little time to make a huge impact on a child’s life. Second, spread the word by following BBBS on social media. Third, Invite the BBBS agency to your organization or company's site for an informational Lunch and Learn. BBBS of the Greater TriCities, serves the Greater Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City area, including Carter, Hawkins, Sullivan, and Washington County, Tenn. and Washington County, Va. For more information on how to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, visit www.tennesseebig. org or call 423-247-3240.

subjects that are of interest to •••••••••••••••••••••••••• the students. The atmosphere is casual and jovial. This class Instructor Needed for Fit and is designed for all those 18 and Toned, Love Handles classes up who wish to try their hand at TSenior Services at Memorial creative writing. Park Community Center, 510 •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Thursdays @ 6:00 p.m. Jones Bert St., is seeking an instructor Creativity Center. Bristol Public Bird Walks to teach Fit and Toned and Love Library. On Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Handles classes for ages 18 8:15 and 9:15, members of Birding and older. Classes will be held •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Kingsport will lead bird walks in Mondays and Wednesdays, May celebration of International Bird 31-June 28, from 8:30-10 a.m. JC Community Drum Circle The Johnson City Community Migration Day. Both walks will Fit and Toned is an hourlong Drum Circle meets every start at Exchange Place, 4812 class (8:30-9:30 a.m.) consisting of cardio intervals and strength Wednesday evening (April – Orebank Road, Kingsport. October), 7pm - 8:30pm, inside When birds migrate, they stop training. Love Handles is a the Farmers’ Market Pavilion at resource-rich and strategically 30-minute class (9:30-10 a.m.) next to Founders Park. Everyone located sites. These sites are focusing on training core muscles. is welcome to attend and known as stop-over sites. Come Instructors are required to participate. Come drum, hoop/ learn about a stop-over site near have current aerobics and CPR holler, dance, or just relax and your home and how you can help certifications and must carry liability insurance. Rate of pay is take in the scene, no experience birds along the way. or “talent” necessary. There are Walk participants should wear $15 for 1.5 hours of teaching. shared instruments and of course sturdy shoes suitable for walking Interested applicants should you can bring your own drums or in grass and on uneven ground. contact Lauren Fowler at or lfowler@ percussion. It's all improvised, The less than one mile walks will (423)461-4852 so there are no mistakes. We just last about fifty minutes and are johnsoncitytn.org. smile and keep playing. Bring free and suitable for all ages. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Birding Kingsport, Fred J. your own seating! Alsop Chapter of the Tennessee BBBS Continues 100 Mentors in •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ornithological Society, meets the 100 Days Campaign 4th Tuesday of each month at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Billy Jonas Performs At Library The Johnson City Public Library Cryptogram: It is not miserable to be blind; it is miserable to be incapable of enduring blindness. is pleased to host Billy Jonas as DropQuote: "There is an election going on all the time... the Lord votes for you and Satan votes against you, and you part of the “Build a Better World” must cast the deciding vote." Summer Reading Program special event on Thursday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. in the Jones Meeting Room. Billy’s upbeat, engaging presence encourages active audience participation. He will be performing songs from his four albums. Billy’s music mixes conventional instruments with homemade creations. This program is designed for rising kindergarten through fifth graders and their parents or caregivers, but everyone is welcome to attend. Support materials are provided by the Tennessee State Library

Kelly’s Place

By Jim Kelly since 1989 jkelly@ theloaferonline.com

his sign may contain the secret of the universe as well as the answer to that perennial human question about the meaning of life (assuming that our household pets never burden themselves with this nonsense). Maybe the hokey pokey is what it’s all about after all. Sometimes I think we get a little too serious when we contemplate these deep, yet necessary questions. The hokey pokey might be as good as anything else we might come up with. Another inspiration for me is “A Serious Man,” the clever 2009 Coen Brothers’ film about a modern man, Larry Gopnik, searching for the meaning of life. He is tormented by this question until he receives enlightenment from his rabbi (the film is in many ways a modern retelling of The Book Of Job) who tells him to find wisdom in the lyrics of the songs recorded by the Jefferson Airplane, that iconic rock group who helped define the so-called “Summer of Love” back in the day. Maybe the true meaning of life is found, for instance, by listening closely to the group’s 1967 hit, “Somebody To Love,” which asks us to consider that when the truth is found to be lies, maybe all we need is somebody to love. And, perhaps even more meaningful is the rabbi’s contention that the meaning of life might somehow be connected to our being able to recall the names of the original members of Jefferson Airplane. Can you do this without Googling the answer? And can you correctly pronounce all their names? One of the reasons why I chose Philosophy as my undergraduate and graduate minor so many years ago (hint: there were no smartphones back then) is because I enjoyed asking questions and seeking out meanings in the oddest of places. I hope you can see the influence of all this in my weekly columns. For me, Philosophy is little more than continually asking “Why?” and perhaps being a little annoying in the process (remember that Socrates was brought to trial because he asked too many questions). After all, nothing is learned until we ask a question, whether it is about the identities of Jefferson Airplane members, the hokey pokey, or the reasons why we have to die (the central question asked by the world’s oldest written story, “The Epic Of Gilgamesh”). When you think about it, we are all born as little philosophers until our educational system replaces curiosity with test-taking (I take revenge on this fact every time I walk into a classroom and ask my students to create something new that can’t be reproduced on a ScanTron sheet). Our curiosity about life’s larger questions still survives, however, especially in the wee small hours of the morning. According to Seth Stephens-Davidowitz’s new book, EVERYBODY LIES: BIG DATA, NEW DATA, AND WHAT THE INTERNET CAN TELL US ABOUT WHO WE REALLY ARE, a study of Google Trends and other resources tells us that “the hours between 2 and 4 a.m. are prime time for big questions: What is the meaning of consciousness? Does free will exist? Is there life on other planets?” And, I suppose we might also find time watch cat videos and keep up with the feud between Katy Perry and Taylor Swift while considering those larger philosophical issues. When people tell me how useless a degree in Philosophy is, I point to this

column as evidence (hopefully) to the contrary. This column wouldn’t exist were it not for those courses I took and the books I read in preparation for my degree--books like Arthur Lovejoy’s THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING, Plato’s many Dialogues, Heidegger’s BEING AND TIME, Erving Goffman’s FRAME ANALYSIS, Colin Wilson’s THE OUTSIDER, Theodore Roszak’s THE MAKING OF A COUNTERCULTURE, and D.T. Suzuki’s various Zen studies. And, I have never forgotten the impact the Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 album “Surrealistic Pillow” made, and continues to make, on my still-a-work-in-progress life. And, yes, I can name each and every one of the original band members, although I am not a very good practitioner of the hokey pokey. My favorite philosopher these days is Chuck Klosterman, the author of a dazzling series of essays about popular culture that have inspired more than a few of my columns. These essays have been collected into several books, beginning with SEX, DRUGS, AND COCOA PUFFS: A LOW CULTURE MANIFESTO (2003), culminating (at this point) with BUT WHAT IF WE’RE WRONG: THINKING ABOUT THE PRESENT AS IF IT WERE THE PAST (2016) and X: A HIGHLY SPECIFIC, DEFIANTLY INCOMPLETE HISTORY OF THE EARLY 21st CENTURY (2017), which is an anthology of the pieces he has written for various publications, including The New York Times, Esquire, ESPN, The Guardian, and SPIN. At this point, I have not read his two novels, but I do highly recommend his HYPERTHETICALS: 50 QUESTIONS FOR INSANE CONVERSATIONS (2010), a set of 50 cards that are ideal for stimulating some rather unique discussions. I have borrowed and stolen many of Klosterman’s ideas in other columns, including the one I presented a couple of weeks ago. As I mentioned in that recent column, Klosterman likes to take something that seems rather inane, like that iconic 1990 show, “Saved By The Bell,” and turn it into a meditation about how Zack Morris might very well be the most significant person of the last 50 years. As he says, the object is to use a given text to “provide a superstructure for subtext,” which is another way of saying that deeper meanings can be extracted from the most seeminglymundane or silly things. His topics generally revolve around music or sports, with plenty of side trips into movies, literature, TV shows, and celebrities. One of my favorite essays in his new collection is “My Zombie, Myself,” in which he uses the current (which is about to become passe) walking dead phenomenon to consider some larger issues like how the true zombie apocalypse more closely resembles the endless onslaught of email we receive every waking moment. Trying to annihilate this constant stream of text is perhaps more exhausting and exasperating than trying to stop the zombies; and at this point we should be asking whose brains are we trying to kill--theirs or ours? As Klosterman advises, “Continue the termination. Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop deleting. Return your voice mails and nod your agreements. This is the zombies’ world, and we just live here.” This puts a whole new spin on the week-after-week monotony of “The Walking Dead,” doesn’t it? Maybe the show should be renamed “The Inboxed Dead.” Well, that’s it for this week. Time for a little hokey pokey, accompanied by “Somebody To Love.” See you next week. In the meantime, read a few Chuck Klosterman essays.

35 theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017

Is This What It's ALL ABOUT?

I just bought one of those neat little metallic signs that asks “What if the hokey pokey IS what it’s all about?” Needless to say, I am looking forward to proudly displaying this on my wall.

theloaferonline.com | May 30, 2017