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Holiday gift giving
Volume 30 • Issue #49 Publisher Luci Tate
happenings
Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle
4 How To Survive Holiday Shopping 4-7 Gift Ideas
Cover Design Bill May
8 Hotel Dallas 10 She Kills Monsters @ Northeast State
Advertising Dave Carter Patti Barr Sam Jones Shawn Hale Paul Kavanaugh Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks 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 (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising)
11 Glasgow Theatre Presents ‘The Normal Heart’ 12 It’s Christmas Connection Time! 13 Book Signing By Local Author 14 “Race Against Hunger” Kicks Off
columns & reviews 20 Stargazer - Autumn Skies Great For A “Starnap: 21 Skies This Week 22 Batteries Not Included - Doc Savage: The Man Of Bronze 22 The Casual Word - Kelvin’s Joules 24 Pop Life - Boo! A Madea Halloween 26 Appalachian Wanderers - Rails To Trails Adventures 35 Kelly’s Place - 21st Century Play-Doh
music & fun 18
Spotlight - Great Music 30 Puzzle Page
14 Veterans Day Ceremony 15 Bristol Music Club Scholarship Benefit 16 Bringing Jazz And Funk To The Stage 17 Villa*Nova @ O’Mainins 25 Paint Party @ Hawg N Dawg 25 Five Mile Mountain Band @ Carter Fold 27 Rocky Bleier Visits Northeast State 29 It’s TROTTING Time In Johnson City 32 Things To Do 33 Pets Of The Week 34 Classifieds
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 loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.
Founder: Bill Williams
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 3
How to survive the holiday shopping season without busting your budget or going crazy.
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we….soon our bellies will be filled to the rim with delicious food. The leftover turkey will be all wrapped up and stowed in the fridge, the pies will have been all devoured and you’ll be ready for a long vacation. Unfortunately, the Christmas shopping season kicks off with a vengeance in the next few weeks. Don’t stress out yet - we’ll share some tips for saving money and staying sane while navigating holiday shopping madness. Make a list. Write down everyone you plan to buy a gift for, no matter how small the gift may be. Include ideas of what to give each person, along with the maximum amount you’re willing to spend. This will help you manage your holiday budget. Start Early. Don’t wait until after Thanksgiving to start buying holiday gifts. That’s why we are offering you this holiday gift guide early. Once December hits, you’ll be glad you already have some people crossed off your list. Do some online Research. If you’re unsure of which specific item to buy (for example, you want to buy your significant other a new watch but don’t know what brand or model is best), search for reputable online reviews like consumerreports.com. Check sites with user reviews and ratings like amazon.com or cnet.com, to find out which products have the most positive feedback. You can even find the best online price by using a comparison shopping site, such as pricegrabber.com. Hit up Black Friday (If you dare). If you’re looking for great deals and aren’t afraid of battling large crowds, the day after Thanksgiving is a shopping must. Get a head start on fellow shoppers by checking a website like blackfriday.org before the big day. Be warned, though some, so-called “Black Friday” deals aren’t any cheaper than the regular sale price, so do some extra research before you camp out in the store parking lot at 2 a.m. May we suggest you avoid long lines and shop local? Most locally owned stores, like these in The Loafer, offer great and creative gift ideas and the lines for checkout is minimal. We’ve compiled some easy and great gift ideas for you to use during your holiday shopping madness. Get no-cost holiday shipping. Last minute shoppers, here’s a gift for you. If you can’t find your gift item at our local retail store, in December, thousands of online merchants offer free shipping and will deliver by Christmas Eve. Do it Yourself. There’s an abundance of homemade pickles, hand knit hats and handcrafted stationary these days, thanks to a growing obsession with all things crafty. Pinterest offers some great ideas. If you’re creatively inclined, avoid mall madness altogether and bake a batch of cookies, sew personalized tote bags or make beautiful earrings for friends or family. Even shopping local you can run into many hand crafted items already made you can purchase and that gift will feel very personal. Stay Calm. Most importantly, take a deep breath. Take your medications if you need to. Take your patient pill and have fun shopping. Keep reading for great gift ideas for our local merchants that will make your holiday shopping experience much more fun and simple. One of the best tools for holiday shopping is in your hands right now. Continue browsing through The Loafer and see all that our businesses have to offer.
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It
seems like these days everyone has a beer aficionado on their gift list. Not only does it keep beer colder longer, but cools down quicker when you put it in the fridge. Mention you saw it in The Loafer and your first fill is on the house. It just doesn’t get any better! Available at Holston River Brewing Co. 2623 Volunteer Pkwy , Bristol TN 423/946-2380
Who
doesn’t love BBQ? Perfect for that hard to shop for friend or family member. Or, be the hero at your family get together or office party when you show up with BBQ and all the trimmings from Baconland. We will cater your event if you prefer. Everyone loves BBQ and it doesn’t get any better than Baconland. 239 Bluff City Hwy - Bristol TN 423/573-2271
Sam’s
has everything you need in one location for holiday entertaining and gift giving! We have an extensive selection of wine and spirits, as well as stemware and glassware, gift bags, books, party supplies and more. Available at Sam’s Package Store 1304 E. Stone Dr. - Kingsport 423/247-9463
Nothing
makes a better gift than a gift certificate to About Face Weight Loss & Aesthetics. Let your favorite person pick what they’d like to spend it on. No easier way to make a person happy than with a gift certificate of beauty. ABOUT FACE WEIGHT LOSS & AESTHETICS 615 Volunteer Pkwy - Bristol TN 423/989-3223
Gift cards make great gifts as we all know. With two locations and award-winning food, this is sure to be appreciated. Whether it’s used to dine in or for take-out, you’re giving the gift of great food. Stop by or call to arrange your own gift card in any denomination you desire. VALENTINO’S RESTAURANT 1101 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN 423/444-6394 1501 King College Rd. Bristol TN 423/968-7655
a gift that is
Only
for the finest drinkers. Purchase the world’s first single barrel bourbon. The taste profile is sweet with citrus and oak. A creamy vanilla nose features hints of nuts, caramel, orange and light chocolate. Blanton’s Original set the standard for single barrel bourbons. Best served neat or on the rocks. 46.5% alcohol by volume. Available at Greenacres Package Store 1229 N. Eastman Road - Kingsport 423/246-9682
For the practical giver! Sometimes the best
Purchase a
$100 Gift Card and receive a certificate for a FREE round of golf (valued at $38.00, offer expires 12/31/16). available at Country Club of Bristol 6045 Old Jonesboro Road - Bristol 423/652-1700
gift you can give is some time and freedom. Many folks don’t like to leave their pets alone overnight or even for the day. Get them a gift certificate from Paws N Claws for a day of doggie day care or an overnight stay. This is both a thoughtful gift and one with much practical use Available at Paws N Claws 3110 Avoca Road, Bristol 423/764-2400
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 5
Custom Gift baskets with products from Lux Collagenetics, Hempz, Paul Mitchell, Ed Hardy, JWOWW, Snook and more.
Starting at
6500
$
LUX SPA & TAN 1060 W. Main St. #12 - Abingdon 276/525-1220
I Love My Changes! Customized gloMinerals Makeup Gift packs
25% off plus free makeup case
106 Pinnacle Drive, #106 Johnson City, TN 37615 423/328-0488 Next to Cracker Barrel at Boones Creek
THE GIFT OF FUN!!!!!!! Recoil 2017
4 Wheeldrive, 72 Volt Electric, 3 Year Warranty. Quiet, great for deer hunting, good for camping. COME BY FOR WINTER PRICING! Available at Bristol Golf Carts 710 Volunteer Pkwy - Bristol 423/878-1834
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6 | November 8, 2016 | theloaferonline.com
HOT STON EM w/ P AVONIA ASSAGE & RE FACIAL FLEXOLOGY PACK AGE only
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Healing Waters Day Spa & Salon 107 Charwood Dr - Abingdon 276/ 628-4233 Other gift certificates also available.
WE ROCK, SO YOU CAN ROLL! MOJO Skateboard Shop serving the tricities for over
25 years of skateboarding and longboarding. Owner, Joey Booth, life long Johnson City Small Business Owner, proudly bringing you the best in Professional Skateboards. We carry full line of Decks, Â Trucks, Wheels and Bearings. Including: Baker, Girl, Creature, Bones Reds, Shake Junt, Spitfire Wheels, Bones Wheels, Indy, Thunder and Venture Trucks.
We Rock, So You Can Roll! Located at: 729 W. Walnut St., Johnson City, TN near ETSU
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 7
Fantasy Meets Documentary
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Hotel Dallas: ‘Power of Cinema Blended with Humor of Art’
n the 1980s, everyone in the U.S. knew the Ewings of Southfork Ranch. With 13 seasons on network TV, the nighttime soap opera Dallas was an American icon. Little did Americans know that its glamour, capitalist conflict and images of lavish living held equal fascination in communist Romania, where it was one of the few non-propaganda-based television programs allowed. Filmmakers Livia Ungur, from Romania, and Sherng-Lee Huang, who grew up in Knoxville, Tenn., have used Ungur’s youthful love affair with the prime-time drama and its good guy, Bobby Ewing, as a jumping off place for their first feature film, Hotel Dallas, a playful mix of fiction, fantasy and documentary. Hotel Dallas follows the surreal journey of a young woman – portrayed by Ungur – her own tycoon father and her childhood TV idol as she navigates the failed utopias of communism and capitalism in Romania into a realm of ghosts – including Ewing – and lost time. This “wondrous work of art, slash documentary, slash cultural commentary, slash love song to both Romania and the United States” walks a fine line between fantasy and reality, says Huffington Post’s Nina Rothe. “It keeps your audience thinking and wondering until the very end.” Mary B. Martin School of the Arts at East Tennessee State University will present Hotel Dallas on Monday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. in ETSU’s Culp Auditorium. The film is part of the South Arts Southern Circuit Tour of Independent filmmakers and is free and open to the public. The screening will be followed by a Q&A and reception with filmmakers Huang and Ungur. Hotel Dallas premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February
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as part of the Panorama Dokumente program. The film stars Patrick Duffy, who portrayed Bobby Ewing in the original TV drama and the recent TV reprise of Dallas. In this new film, Duffy’s soap opera character dies in Texas and wakes up in Romania in a hotel that looks just like home. “We had this crazy idea of ‘What if we use the death of Bobby Ewing, from Dallas, and try to find out what happens to Bobby Ewing during the dream season, when he’s not in Dallas?’ ” Ungur tells Hammer to Nail magazine. “Maybe
DALLAS . . . continued on next page
DALLAS . . . continued from previous page he wakes up in Romania, in this replica of the Southfork Ranch. So, that’s kind of how it started.” Ungur and Huang had shot much of their film before they took a chance and asked Duffy to be part of the project. Duffy liked what he saw of the film so much that he agreed to do the work for a bottle of wine. “He never messes up, never,” Huang says. “The first take is completely perfect and you’re like ‘That just made the scene 10 times better.’ ” Duffy calls Hotel Dallas the “brilliant brainchild of these two young filmmakers” and says he was thrilled to be involved in the project, in which he provides voice over as the ghost of Bobby, as well as on-screen appearances. “This is a piece of incredible artwork …” Duffy says in a red carpet interview earlier this year. “This film will challenge people.” Romania has the perfect set, the actual Hotel Dallas, built by Ilie Alexandru in the 1990s. Alexandru called himself, “the J.R. of Romania,” and decided to build a hotel that looked like the Southfork mansion in the TV show. “Later he went to prison for fraud,” Ungur says. “His story is a perfect microcosm of Romania before and after the revolution.” While Hotel Dallas “is a piece of history, showing the impact of the ’80s American soap opera Dallas on Romania, a country where people were suffocating,” says the Huffington Post, its eclectic style of storytelling is “refreshingly offbeat and innovative as it mixes abstractions, dramatizations and outrageous musical numbers with more conventional elements of documentary, all of which illuminate the almost tragic absurdity of the tale,” says POV Magazine. Now based out of New York City, Ungur and Huang, who are also marriage partners, also create sculptures and installations. Like her character in Hotel Dallas, Ungur immigrated to America to pursue her art. Huang, who began filmmaking while creating videos for his YouTube channel, Quiet Library, was born
in East Tennessee. The collision of these two cultures, America and Romania, is at the heart of the film. “Imitation is a big element of our fantasy lives, and also just a big part of how we learn, from the time we’re babies,” says Ungur, who was recently named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. “Throughout the film, we’re constantly negotiating between real vs. fake, original vs. copy. Every documentary is selective in its version of the truth. Maybe we’re just a bit more honest about how we’re lying to the audience!” The effect has been called “mesmerizing,” “lovely” and “a wondrous work of art” by reviewers. “It is an experimental film, not constructed like a typical narrative film would be in the United States,” says Mary B. Martin School of the Arts Director Anita DeAngelis. “We are excited to bring Hotel Dallas’ unique combination of feature, documentary, music video, archival clips and humor to our local film audience. I’ve never seen a film quite like it.” For more information on Hotel Dallas, visit hoteldallasfilm.com. The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. South Arts, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit regional arts organization building on the South’s unique heritage and enhancing the public value of the arts. Their work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective through an annual portfolio of activities designed to address the role of the arts in impacting the issues important to our region, and linking the South with the nation and the world through arts. For information about the film or ETSU Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, call 423-439-TKTS (8587) or visit www.etsu.edu/martin.
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 9
She Kills Monsters
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at Northeast State
he Northeast State Community College Department of Theater proudly presents the modern production She Kills Monsters opening Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m., in the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts Theater at the College’s Blountville campus. The new production continues the tradition of vividly creative and cutting edge productions from the College’s award-winning Theatre Department. Written by modern playwright Qui Nguyen, Monsters delivers a wonderful comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. Five years later when Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s’ pop culture, Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all. Agnes journeys into a surreal world where all she thought she knew is turned on its head. The play asks critical and universal questions about human beings and our quest to know where we all fit in the world. The play involves mature themes and strong adult language and is recommended for audiences ages 18 and older. She Kills Monsters is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Tickets are $10 and admission is free to currently enrolled Northeast State students with valid identification. The play’s performance dates are Nov. 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 13 and 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the WRCPA Theater. For tickets, visit www.northeaststate.edu/theatre or contact Northeast State Theater at 423.354.5169 or e-mail emsloan@NortheastState.edu.
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Glasgow Theatre to present
‘The Normal Heart’
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lasgow Theatre Company will present the Tony Award-winning play “The Normal Heart” Nov. 10-13 at Johnson City Community Theatre. Performances will be Thursday–Saturday, Nov. 1012, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. Set between the years 1981 to 1984, “The Normal Heart” is a searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man’s lonely fight to awaken the world to the crisis. Written by Larry Kramer, the show follows Ned Weeks, an activist who has become enraged at the lack of action and compassion toward a “mysterious disease” that is rapidly claiming the lives of young gay men. “The Normal Heart” returned to Broadway in 2011 and earned several Tony Awards, including “Best Revival of a Play.” It also was produced as a 2014 television movie starring Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer and Jim Parsons.
The Glasgow production stars local actors Larry Bunton, Josh Cassels, Dylan Jantz, Chris Jones, Matthew Kilby, Richard Lura, Jonathan Marin, Joy Nagy, Matt Quick, Shannon Skinner-Cox and Drew Wilder. The company includes Daniel Harr as stage manager, Debra Shoun as assistant director, H.F. Rader as sound board operator, Sabra Hayden as light board operator and William Cate as props master. The show is directed by Joe Smith. Funding for the production was supported by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The show is produced through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Johnson City Community Theatre is located at 600 E. Maple Street. The show contains adult themes and strong language. Tickets are $10. For tickets, call or text(423) 797-8482 or visit www.glasgowtheatrecompany.org.
FREE BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS
Free blood pressure readings daily, Mon-Fri a by an RN, 8-11 am. Memorial Park Community Center, Johnson City. theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 11
It’s Christmas Connection Time!
37th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair to be held November 11-13 at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium
K
ingsport’s Christmas Connection, a free admission event and open to the public, is sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts. It’s celebrating 37 years of arts and crafts in 2016 and is held in the Kingsport Civic Auditorium, located at 1550 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport. Christmas Connection is an ongoing favorite staple in the community and region. It is a very well established cultural event in Kingsport, hosting the region’s best arts and crafts vendors. The Civic Auditorium will be filled with holiday wreaths & floral arrangements, primitive & country crafts, Christmas ornaments, pottery, stained glass, woodcrafts, handmade soaps and lotions, fabric crafts, needlework, doll clothing, jewelry, dichroic glass, handmade greeting cards and paper art, leather crafts, basketry, paintings, figurines, candles, baked goods and much more! Continuing in the 2016 show, courtesy of Bubba’s Book Store, several regional authors will be on hand each day to sign their books – a truly unique item for anyone in your family. Look for them in the Civic Auditorium West Room. Also joining us again this year are the artists from Kingsport’s Senior Artisan Center. Make sure to stop in the Civic Auditorium History Room and check out their beautiful crafts. Outside, patrons will find kettle corn, being made fresh all day. Favorite fried food items will also be available for purchase at the parking lot entrance. The Christmas Connection Café will be serving up country favorites on Saturday like homemade
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DATES/HOURS: Friday Nov. 11 12 Noon - 6 PM Saturday Nov. 12 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday Nov. 13 12 Noon - 5 PM
soup beans & cornbread. And don’t miss all the yummy baked goods at the entrance provided by the Kingsport Ballet and Suzuki Talent Education. The holidays are fast approaching and this is an excellent opportunity to grab some holiday cheer, support master craftsmen and find unique gifts and treasures. Shoppers can spend the day shopping inside, out of the weather and amongst quality arts and crafts. For more information on the Christmas Connection event, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov and search ‘Christmas Connection’ or call 423-392-8415.
Author Joe Tennis to sign new ghost book featuring Tri-Cities
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uthor Joe Tennis writes about the ghostly bride waiting on the banks of the Holston River outside the Rotherwood Mansion in his latest book, “Haunted Highlands: Ghosts & Legends of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia” (Backyard Books, $6.99). The author from Bristol, Virginia, is signing copies of “Haunted Highlands” on Friday, Nov. 11, noon-5 p.m., and, Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium during the Christmas Connection Arts & Crafts Fair, located on Fort Henry Drive next to Dobyns-Bennett High School. He will also sign copies of his book at the Christmas Craft Show in Abingdon, Virginia, held on Nov. 18-19 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Nov. 20 (noon-5 p.m.) at the Community Center of Abingdon, 300 Senior Drive. “Haunted Highlands” features a fiddler who could make snakes dance on Stone Mountain at Trade, Tennessee; a ghostly figure at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tennessee; and a redhaired angel at Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The cover features the Major Graham Mansion in Wythe County, near Graham’s Forge, Virginia. Tennis, 47, also writes about how a dog was afraid of “The Ghost Room” at a home in Castlewood, Virginia. More tales from Southwest Virginia include stories of a herb-hunting soldier in Pound; the ghostly veterans of a Civil War battlefield in Saltville; and blood stains that will not disappear at the Martha Washington Inn of Abingdon. Across Northeast Tennessee, the author recounts the legend of “The Marble Boy” at East Tennessee State University; phantom telephones at Tusculum College; and how “God’s Halo” appears atop Roan Mountain. In North Carolina, he writes about a ghostly minister at the “Horn in the West” outdoor drama of Boone and of the Brown Mountain Lights. Tennis is also the author of the recently released “Along Virginia’s Route 58: True Tales from Beach to Bluegrass,” which features tales of Rye Cove, Clinchport, Wheeler, Natural Tunnel, Hiltons, Bristol and Abingdon. For more, call, 276-466-0654.
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 13
Food City Kicks Off Annual “Race Against Hunger”
S
ince 1992, Food City - in partnership with their customers has conducted an annual campaign to raise funds for local non-profit hunger relief organizations. The holiday promotion, entitled “Race Against Hunger” is co-sponsored by Kellogg’s. “Hunger is a serious problem throughout our region. Food City and Kellogg’s are proud to be a part of the Race Against Hunger,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City’s president and chief executive officer. Beginning November 2nd and continuing through November 29th, $1, $3, and $5 scanable cards will be available at each Food City checkout. Customers wishing to make a donation simply need to select the desired dollar amount and it will be conveniently added to their grocery bill. All proceeds will benefit hunger relief and charitable organizations within our region. With every dollar contribution made using their Food City ValuCard, customers are also electronically entered for a chance to win their choice of a spectacular season of racing at Bristol Motor Speedway or a $2,500 contribution made to their favorite charity. “Million of Americans need food assistance each year. The Food City Race Against Hunger campaign is one way we can help those in need right here in our own area,” adds Kevin Stafford, vice president of marketing for Food City. “Last year, the program was a huge success, raising $399,500. With the support of our loyal customers and associates, we hope to raise even more funds to aide with this vital need,” said Smith. Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 135 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.
ETSU to hold Veterans Day ceremony
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n observance of Veterans Day, the Veterans Affairs Standing Committee, the Student Veterans of America, and the East Tennessee State University Department of Military Science will hold a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. to honor and remember those who have served their country through military service. The public is invited to attend. The event, which will take place at the Veterans Memorial in the Quad (behind Gilbreath Hall), will feature the ETSU Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets placing a wreath while “Taps” is played. Music will be provided by select members of the ETSU Marching Band and the University School chorus. Col. Jeffrey Morgan will offer remarks at the ceremony. Morgan is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and an alumnus of ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University. As a medical officer, Morgan has served in various capacities at the Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina; chief of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas; and Diving Medical Officer with the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West, Florida. Morgan’s overseas postings include Heidelberg, Germany, and the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm. A native of Asheboro, North Carolina, he is married to Laura Cave Morgan, who will sing the national anthem at the ceremony. She studied voice at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is a regional soloist who has performed in numerous professional and volunteer venues. For further information, contact Charles Patton of the Veterans Affairs Standing Committee at pattonc@etsu.edu or ETSU’s Department of Military Science at 423-439-4269. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423439-8346.
BRISTOL MUSIC CLUB
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT
T
he Bristol Music Club holds its annual Scholarship Benefit at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tennessee on Saturday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. “A Symphony of Fashions” features a fashion show of clothes from The Galleria and The Bristol Bridal Station (YWCA) and a musical program by scholarship winners Natalie Lugo, cello; Thomas O’Neill, tenor; and Seth Boyd, clarinet. The program raises funds for the Music Scholarships offered by the club each May. In May of 2016, over $6,000 was presented to 14 students. Natalie Lugo was the honorable mention winner of Division II of the 2016 Bristol Music Club Scholarship Auditions. She studies cello with Wesley Baldwin and violin with Miroslav Hristov. She is an 11th grade homeschooled student and the daughter of Ralph and Dawn Lugo. Her first nine years of violin study were with Tim Barrett. She is a five-time winner of Bristol Music Club Scholarship auditions on both instruments, including several 1st place awards. She sings with the Highlands Youth Ensemble, and is the cellist of the string quartet Tensegrity, which includes her three brothers. Tensegrity won the 2016 Enkor International Chamber Music Competition. Thomas O’Neill was the first place winner of Division II of the 2016 Bristol Music Club Scholarship Auditions. In addition, he was selected by the judges to receive the Paramount Chamber Players award and he will perform with the Players in April 2017. Thomas is a two-time winner of Bristol Music Club Scholarship auditions. He is a voice student of Rachel Helton, an 11th grade student at Patrick Henry High School, and is the son of Doc and Jennifer O’Neill. He was a regional NATS winner, semi-finalist, and outstanding male singer. He has attended the six-week program at Brevard Music Center, and participates in his high school chamber choir and band. Seth Boyd was the second place winner of Division II of the 2016 Bristol Music Club Scholarship Auditions. Seth is a two-time winner of Bristol Music Club Scholarship auditions. He is a clarinet student of Tom Crawford and a senior at Eastside High School in Coeburn, Virginia. He is the son of Lee and Lisa Fields and Randy Boyd. He is a member of the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra, was first chair of the All-County and All-District Symphonic Band, first chair of the ETSU Honor Band, and is a member of the Eastside High School Marching and Concert Bands and the Winds of the Mountain Empire. The afternoon ends with a reception in the Paramount’s lobby featuring finger foods prepared by The Bristol Music Club members, with music presented by a string trio of scholarship winners under the leadership of Bethany Dawson. Tickets are $20 if purchased from a club member, $25.25 if purchased through the Paramount box office or at the door. theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 15
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Brian Culbertson is ready to bring Jazz and Funk to the stage at NPAC
ward-winning multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer, Brian Culbertson, brings his Funk! Tour to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on Saturday, November 19th at 7:30 PM. Coming off the heels of his newly released album, Funk!, Brian Culbertson effortlessly crosses genres between contemporary jazz, R&B and funk with his tour. His new set is a throwback to the stanky P-Funk records from back in the day combining infectious bass lines, greasy horn licks and sing-a-long hooks. Heralding from the musically rich city of Chicago, Brian began his musical studies at the early age of eight on piano and quickly picked up several other instruments by age 12 including drums, trombone, bass, and euphonium. Inspired by the great R&B/Jazz/Pop artists of the 70’s, Brian Culbertson started composing original music for his 7th grade piano recital and hasn’t stopped having self-produced 16 solo albums, most of which have topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. Having worked and performed with countless industry all-stars like Michael McDonald, Chris Botti, Ledisi, Barry Manilow, Herb Alpert, Natalie Cole, Chuck Brown, and Bootsy Collins, just to name a few, Brian has received numerous awards including being nominated for a 2012 NAACP Image Award and a 2012 Soul Train Award. Regardless of his success, fans can rest assured that Brian Culbertson always brings his very best – and brings the best out of others – in all his broad-ranging musical endeavors. Experience the Funk! at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, November 19th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $40 for orchestra level seating, $35 for mezzanine seating and $30 for balcony seats. A VIP Experience add-on may be purchased for $50. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. NPAC offers online seat selection with no processing or delivery fees. There is a $1.50 ticketing fee per ticket regardless of purchase method. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am until 5 pm. The 1150 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
16 | November 8, 2016 | theloaferonline.com
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Villa*Nova Spins “Thread of Life” Tour
olumbia, South Carolina rock band Villa*Nova is currently touring in support of their most recent release, 2015’s Thread of Life. The album blasts out of the speakers from the first riff like a recasting of ampedup guitar pop with a contemporary spin, presenting a potent, soulful alternative rock act with energy and catchy hooks on songs such as “Blackhole”, “Bed”, and “Get Out.” Villa*Nova will be appearing at O’Mainins Pub in Bristol, Tennessee on Saturday November 12th. Villa*Nova, currently independent, was previously signed to Universal Republic (now Republic) and recorded their 2012 “WTF the EP” in LA with super producer Howard Benson (Papa Roach, Daughtry, Hoobastank, Seether) under the band name Weaving The Fate, before reverting back to its original moniker and a focus on the soulful, funky alternative rock with which it began.. The band has shared stages with everyone from Korn to Shinedown, Evanescence, Slash, AWOLNATION, Staind, Chevelle, Filter, Crossfade, Dirty Heads, Nappy Roots, REHAB, and more. So, Villa*Nova is back, even though they never really left. The new album is a step both forward and backwards--revisiting the energy and melodicism that gained them notoriety in the first place, a celebratory, positive set of songs that just feel like the soundtrack to a really great party, shifting from power pop to reggae rhythms into light funk grooves. “I’ve certainly written my fair share of dark, depressing rock songs and I’m sure the day will come when more will appear on a record, but for now this one is about getting uplifted and being thankful, overcoming negativity in any and all forms,” Singer, guitarist and principal songwriter Brian Conner states. That happiness comes from knowing, and owning, who they are as a band, he adds. “We came to a point as a band where we understood we’ll never be Slayer, or Avenged Sevenfold or any of the really heavy bands we admire,” Conner says.
VILLA*NOVA @ O’Mainins Pub, Bristol, TN Saturday, November 12th
“But there is enough of that out there--our strengths draw from a solid pocket of groove and a foundation in soul that comes out as funky alternative rock music, as Villa*Nova.” For more on Villa*Nova, see www.villanovarocks.com
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 17
S O LG T P
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- FRIDAY - Nov. 11th -
- TUESDAY - Nov. 8th -
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 - Nov. 12th -
DYLAN SHEPPARD w/ JR WYATT, DREW KOHL
LOW COUNTS
DOWNTOWN COUNTRY
(50’s - 90’s, rock n roll, country, a bit of everything) at Kingsport YMCA 7pm
RYAN WARD (Indie) at The Damascus Brewery 7pm
at Birthplace of Country Music Museum 2pm
at The Hideaway 10pm
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse at Jiggy Ray’s 6:30pm
- WEDNESDAY - Nov. 9th -
OPEN MIC
at Studio Brew 8pm
KIDS OUR AGE
MEGAN JEAN & THE KLAY FAMILY BAND
STATE OF SLEEP / EARTH SUITS at The Acoustic Coffeehouse THE BELOVED SINGER SONGWRITER NIGHT w/ SCOTT AMONG at The Hideaway 9pm TUCKER BUKU TAILSPIN at Our House Restaurant
OPEN MIC
MALCOLM HOLCOMBE
at Sleepy Owl Brewery 7pm
BLUESMAN
RYAN HUTCHENS OPEN MIC at Jiggy Ray’s
ACOUSTIC NIGHT at The Hideaway 9pm
- THURSDAY - Nov. 10th -
STOLEN RHODES at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at Model City Tap House 7pm
JOE K WALSH at Down Home 8pm
DOMESTIC DISPUTE / DANVERS WOLVES & WOLVES & WOLVES & WOLVES at The Hideaway 10pm RYAN WARD (Indie)
at O’Mainnin’s Pub
SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC at Sleepy Owl Brewery 8pm
JAZZ 251
at Rock’s Wood Fire Pizza & Grill 7pm
RYAN HUTCHENS
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
- FRIDAY - Nov. 11th -
ADAM MCMILLAN (A little bit of everything)
at Hungry I Apex
HERO JR, SANG SARAH THE DIRTY SOUL REVIVAL at Capone’s 10pm
18 | November 8, 2016 | theloaferonline.com
THE DIAMONDS JAZZ
at Rock’s Wood Fire Pizza & Grill 7pm
FIVE MILE MOUNTAIN ROAD at Carter Fold
LIVE MUSIC
(Country, Classic Rock, Southern Rock) at Country Club Bar & Grill
at Bone Fire Smokehouse 8pm
COPPER RIDGE
JASON KEISER MUSIC
at Country Club Bar & Grill
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
THE GRAHAM PARSONS SHOW CHARGE THE ATLANTIC
- SATURDAY - Nov. 12th -
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
VILLA*NOVA
JAMES MEADOWS (Country) at David Thompson’s Produce 7pm
JUSTIN MYCHALS
at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm
SOUTHERN REBELLION
THE DIAMONDS at Blackbird Bakery
MEGAN JEAN & THE KLAY FAMILY BAND
(Blues, Jazz, Rock, Pop) at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at Holiday Inn (Exit 7)
at Rainbow Asian Cuisine
at CJ’S Sports Bar 7pm
at The Down Home 8pm
ADAM MCMILLAN (A little bit of everything)
THE CRYPTOIDS/ BULGOGI GIPSY DANGER SUTHERN BOYZ
at Jiggy Ray’s 8pm
at Woodstone Deli 8pm
RAILWAY EXPRESS (Souther Rock, Blues, Old & New Country) at Kingsport Moose Lodge 7pm
at O’Mainins Pub
HARLAND COUNTY GRASS
- SUNDAY - Nov. 13th -
BONNIE BLUE at Woodstone Deli
BOOTFOOT
at Sleepy Owl Brewery 8pm
EXTINCTION AD / DIRE HATRED / 1134
at Studio Brew 8pm
KT VAN DYKE
at Capone’s
FROGBELLY & SYMPHONY SEE BRIGHT LIGHTS
at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 2pm
THE FORCE FIELD
at The Hideaway 7pm
THE HOO DOOS
FIELD NOTES, THE BILLY WIDGETS AND THE KINDEST PEOPLE
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
ASYLUM SUITE
at Holston River Brewing Co. 8pm
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
NIGHTSHIFT (Country, Southern Rock, Oldies)
- MONDAY - Nov. 14th -
at Buffalo Puritan 7pm
STATE STREET STRING BAND
at JJ’s Restaurant 9pm
OPEN MIC
RHTYHM REVUE THE SURLY GENTLEMEN at The Down Home
TRAVIS TRITT
at Niswonger Performing Arts Center 7:30pm
JEFF SWAFFORD BAND at Jiggy Ray’s 8pm
STOLEN HEARTS PARTY at Bristol Brewery
at Blackbird Bakery
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
check us out at
theloaferonline.com
Spotlight Directory Birthplace of County Music Museum 520 Birthplace of Country Music Way Bristol VA 423/ 573-1927 Blackbird Bakery 56 Piedmont Ave. Bristol VA 276/ 645-5754 Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon Va 276/623-0037 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Buffalo Ruritan 200 Willowbrook Dr. Bluff City 423/391-7382 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423/928-2295 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons VA 276/594-0676 CJ’S Sports Bar 516 Morelock St. Kingsport 423/ 390-1361 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 The Damascus Brewery 32173 Government Rd. Damascus VA 276 / 469-1069 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough
423/913-8123 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 The Hideaway 235 E. Main St Johnson City 423/ 926-3896 Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100 Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN Hungry I at the Apex 604 W. Market St. Johnson City Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton 423/ 722-3410 Model City Tap House 324 E Market St. Kingsport Niswonger Performing Arts Center 212 Tusculum Blvd Greeneville TN 423/ 638-1328 O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423/844-0049 Our House Restaurant 4903 N. Roan St. Johnson City 423/ 282-1555 Rainbow Asian Cuisine 2412 N. Roan St. Johnson City 423/ 232-6688
Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 3119 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423 / 262-0444 Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423/390-8476 Studio Brew 221 Moore Street Bristol VA 423 / 360-3258 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City 423/979-6400 The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Woodstone Deli 3500 Fort Henry Dr Kingsport 423/245-5424
KARAOKE TUESDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Boomershine’s Pizza Karaoke w/ Marques at Painter Creek Marina Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke at Holiday Inn - Johnson City TN Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzaria Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Mellow Mushroom - Johnson City ***********************
FRIDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW - Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques 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 CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke at The Horseshoe Lounge 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 | November 8, 2016 | 19
AUTUMN SKIES GREAT FOR A “STARNAP”
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Photo by MarQ
he autumn skies are one of the starry delights of the year, and the last time you might spend night time outdoors. But the reward is starlight soothing our soul, the celebration of technological satellites within eyesight cutting through the constellations and maybe a cosmic intruder or two piercing needles of light into the night. Let’s face it; the days are numbered that you’ll be outside after dark. Cold weather and busy holidays keep most of us inside when the day turns to night. And we don’t want to think about those January and February cold nights, when it’s nearly dark at 5 pm and you don’t have much gumption to brave the usually harsh weather. But it is rewarding to make some time for stargazing every week for a half-hour or so—sort of a “starnap”. Just sitting outdoors in comfortable clothes on a comfy recliner and allowing your eyes to adapt to the night while bating in starlight will do you wonders. I guarantee it won’t be wasted time. I think you might be recharged a little bit, and for sure you’ll witness with eyes and ears a new perspective on the stars above, and maybe your neighborhood. Most of us will be battling the security lights of the neighbors and other sources of light pollution. So try and block yourself from annoying stray light. Start this stargazing nap by relaxing outside in the deep twilight and see all kinds of nature stirring about as the stars come out to play with you. Your eyes take about 15 minutes away from white light to allow the pupils to open wider and allow a dramatically better night vision. The human eye isn’t sensitive to red light, and flashlights with a red bulb or cellophane are used to look at a star map or equipment. As your eyes dilate and open wide like an owl, use your ears to hear the night world around us coming alive. The crickets and other insects in their nocturnal late summer cacophony are gone. But you’ll see a few bats darting by, snagging flying insects that buzzed by you earlier. Neighborhood sounds come alive. You realize car tires make a sound of their own on the streets, and somewhere overhead a propeller plane is heading to a twilight landing. A dog barks, quarreling cats howl and in the distance a train’s whistle moans. All of a sudden, it’s dark. Even if the Moon is high and the lunar light drowns out the stars, there will always be a few dozen of the brightest to shine through. And maybe a planet or two. Getting familiar with the night sky is like meeting neighbors that change as you drive down a road that repeats every 12 months. Seeing the Great Square of Pegasus in the northeast this Autumn time of the year is like seeing an old friend you haven’t talked to since February when the celestial horse was setting in the west. There are The Pleiades star cluster rising in the east, with Taurus the Bull and Orion the Hunter close behind. In the west the Milky Way is literally making its swan song as the Northern Cross asterism of Cygnus the Swan is setting. A star chart is essential and fun to use when beginning to get curious about which star is which and the starry outlines of the constellations. A “planisphere” is a star wheel that can be moved to show you the star patterns at any date and time, and they can be found at most book stores. Libraries will have several books on constellations, and free sky charts are on the Internet, like StarMaps.com. Hey! That 1965 edition of the New Encyclopedia Britannica you inherited from your parents—or snagged cheaply at a yard sale— will no doubt have a star chart for the North and South Hemispheres of Earth. Even some world atlases will have star charts. It
20 | November 8, 2016 | theloaferonline.com
doesn’t matter how old your star chart is, the constellations haven’t changed in millions of years, only the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets change. To know the night sky is truly a rewarding experience that never gets old. There is so much to learn…and so little time. You can’t find the faint constellations when the Moon is bright for a week or so around full phase. And then we have plenty of cloudy nights to spoil our stargazing. Of course everyone has a personal life that has lots of evening commitments. So in reality, you might be lucky to seriously stargaze just five or six times a month. Before you know it, the night sky has changed its characters, the constellations you were learning are setting, and new ones are rising in the east. After a season or two of steady stargazing, you’ll come to learn the rhythm of our Earth’s journey around our favorite star, the Sun. The rewards will be something you only measure inside your mind. Connecting with the stars above is more physical than you might think. And mental. First, the physics of light says it has two important properties: it acts like a wavelength and like a particle. This dual nature of light, discovered by Sir Isaac Newton 500 years, has it acting like a radio wave with different frequencies relating to specific colors, i.e. a rainbow. And rays of light act like ping-pong balls, bouncing with an equal and opposite angle. When taking our wide-alert “starnap,” the colors we see in some stars is because of the wave property of light. Like fire, a red star is cooler than a white one. And yellow are somewhere in between. The harder to grasp concept is the fact that light acts like a particle, like something physical bouncing around. Every good photographer knows how to manipulate this solid property of light to get predictable results. So, just like a camera strobe flash bouncing off skin to brighten a face, starlight is bouncing off your body, being absorbed by the retina in the back of your eye and entering your body in a real, physical way. That’s right. Starlight from the fifth brightest star Vega, 26 Light Years away, left the surface of the star in 1990, traveled more than 156 trillion miles during a three-decade journey across interstellar space to bounce off our eyes and enter our bodies in a real physical way. That’s a concept that ancient astronomers would never grasp—that we actually look back in time because the stars are so far away. Even light traveling at 186,000 miles a second—6 trillion miles in a year—takes years to traverse the distance to even the closest stars to our Sun. We look at our favorite star as it “was” 8.5 minutes ago, the time it takes sunlight to traverse 93 million miles. A concept ancient stargazers would believe is that starlight directly affects humans—the basis for twisting the science into astrology. Yet, we are very much stardust, though you won’t need to use the feather duster to clean up! So take advantage of these mild Autumn nights that have so many starry friends awaiting your acquaintance. Take an occasional “starnap”, look up and imagine each starry point as a world of its own, probably with several planets and maybe a companion star orbiting it. And just maybe you’ll find a starnap so enjoyable that you’ll continue stargazing though the Winter and get in rhythm with the seasonal stars. You won’t be disappointed.
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Nov. 8th-14th, 2016, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
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his is a moonlit week as our celestial neighbor moves through Aquarius, Pisces and is full in Taurus on Monday. Because it is closes to Earth as this phase approaches it is billed another “Super Moon,” though astronomers never heard of that moniker until 2011 when some horoscope astrologers began popularizing the notion. The Moon’s orbit is not exactly circular, and it varies from 226,000 miles to 252,000 miles away. When closer the Moon is 14 per cent bigger (imperceptible to the human eye) and up to 30 per cent brighter (something you can tell by reading in the moonlight!) Enjoy the moonshine! The great Leonid Meteor Shower is this week and you might see 10 to 20 meteors an hour around the peak on Friday morning, despite the moonlight. Mon. Nov. 8 Planet Venus is blowing minds as it is high above the western horizon after sunset, looking like a blazing UFO. But is positively identified as our second planet, its global cloudbank reflecting sunlight like a mirror. And don’t forget red Mars in the south. Jupiter is in the morning sky shining brightly. Tues. Nov. 9 On this 1967 date in space history, NASA’s Surveyor 6 spacecraft safely landed on the plains of Sinus Medii, almost dead center in the Moon. The three legged landers were all engine and instruments mounted on a tubular structure that gave it a spidery look. Surveyors 1-7 had two failures, but the successes helped pave the way for the manned Apollo landings that began in July
1969. Wed. Nov. 10 The early evening finds a void of stars when looking south, except one bright, but rather lonely looking star. Called Fomalhaut, or the fishes mouth of the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, this amazing star is also nicknamed “the lonely one.” Thurs. Nov. 11 On this 1966 date in space history NASA launched Gemini XII, the last of the two-man missions laying ground work for the Apollo Moon landings. Crucial was the success of two spacewalks by Buzz Aldrin testing the moon suit. Two and one-half years later, Aldrin would stand on the surface of the Moon with Neil Armstrong during the historic Apollo 11 conquest of the Moon. Fri. Nov. 12 On this night in 1999 the Leonid Meteor Shower rained “shooting stars” like has never been seen before. Hundreds a minute, thousands an hour streaked the skies as Earth plowed though an unusually thick section of cosmic debris. This exceptional Leonid meteor “storm” is experienced every 33 years, the next one in 2032. Sun. Nov. 13 On this 1971 date in space history NASA’s 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars. And it still is, though now defunct. Mariner 9 made many discoveries, including the giant shield volcanoes and the 2,000 mile canyon that bares its name, Vallis Marineris. Other NASA orbiters have been Viking 1 and Viking 2, Mars Glob-
al Surveyor, Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter; Europe’s Mars Explorer and India’s Mars Orbiter Mission. And a new one last month, Europe’s ExoMars! Mon. Nov. 14 Full Moon…that super-stupid “Super Moon.” You’ll definitely look up as it rises around 6:20 pm in the twilight. This is the traditional Beaver Moon to Native Americans as the critters were busy building cozy dams for winter homes.
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 21
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze
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oday, the box office is driven by superhero movies, but before 1978 there was no such thing as a “serious” superhero movie. The biggest thing to happen to the genre was the 1966 Adam West “Batman” TV series-which I love with the passion of a thousand suns--but no real attempts at doing anything beyond “kiddie fare” with the genre existed prior to the landmark “Superman” movie of ‘78. A few years back, I talked about the 1994 Alec Baldwin starring film adaptation of “The Shadow,” a pulp hero and precursor to Batman. Much of modern superhero fare has it roots in the hero pulp fiction that peaked in the 1920s and ‘30s. Along with The Shadow, one of the most popular heroes to come from the world of pulp is Doc Savage, created by the same publishing house as The Shadow, Street & Smith, and driven largely by writer Lester Dent. No less an authority than Stan Lee has called Doc Savage the forerunner to modern superheroes. In the 1960s the Doc Savage stories were republished in a series of paperback books that became hugely popular. Naturally, this caused Hollywood’s ears to perk up and go “We gotta get this on the screen!!” In the mid ‘60s, the screen rights were optioned by producers Mark Goodson and Bill Toddman--who had never made a film before, but were giants in the game show world (If you’ve ever watched Family Feud or The Price is Right, you have them to thank). Their film was slated to a 1966 release--which could have been dead on target for a hit as that was the year “Batman” took over TV and the culture. Legal issues with the rights to the character caused that film to be abandoned, and it wouldn’t be until 1975 that Doc Savage appeared on the silver screen. Produced by pioneering sci-fi film producer George Pal, and directed by Michael Anderson (“Around The World in 80 Days”), “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze” came to theaters in June of 1975--and came to blu-ray last week thanks to Warner Archive. If you’re scratching your head and wondering why you’ve never heard of this movie, let me answer that for you. “Doc Savage” flopped at the box office, released just two weeks before Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” would change Hollywood forever by bringing in the reign of the blockbuster. I knew nothing about the world of Doc Savage, never read a book, or anything before I sat down last night to watch the movie--which the folks at Warner Archive were kind enough to send me a copy of. It was the best way to go into the film, really.
The reputation the film holds online is one of being just bad--but it’s not “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze” is a fun, super entertaining movie. A film that holds its 1930s setting and pulp roots up high, while keeping the tongue firmly planted in cheek, and winking at the audience with an “Hey, we know it’s a movie, just sit back and have fun with us” attitude. This film is like a lost bridge between the Adam West Batman and Indiana Jones--while also having tones of being a super beta version of Buckaroo Banzai! “Doc Savage” stars Ron Ely, who played Tarzan on TV for two seasons in the ‘60s, as The Man of Bronze. He’s introduced traveling to his arctic fortress of solitude (Doc’s publication and fortress predates Superman’s, FYI), when Savage comes into frame, he looks off heroically while an animated twinkle appears in his eye. That should give you an idea of the tone of the film. It’s little fun winks like that which really make it what it is. More examples include doc’s clothing all having tones of Bronze to them, the film’s score being adapted from John Philip Sousa marches--with the last three letters, USA, being accented in red, white, and blue. Like I said, the film embraces those 1930s pulp roots and runs with it while saying “gee-whiz!” The plot is about Doc and his brain trust--The Fabulous Five--heading to a remote village to find out what exactly happened to cause the death of Doc’s father. Along the way Doc has to deal with the power hungry Captain Seas, who has one government official on his payroll--who is literally seen rocking himself to sleep in a giant crib, it’s amazing. There was hopes this would spawn a franchise, and a sequel is even announced in the end credits much like a James Bond film. Unfortunately, this wasn’t meant to be. Even without “Jaws” nipping at its heels, I’m not sure this would have found the right audience in 1975. The trailer, which is included on the blu-ray, doesn’t really do a great job of seeking the film. Warner Brothers did release “Doc Savage” in the early days of home video, commissioning special art with that Indiana Jones vibe, which is what the blu-ray reproduces for its cover art. On blu-ray “Doc Savage” looks good too, there’s nothing dynamic happening with the film visually, but it’s vibrant and colorful. The Mono soundtrack is sharp and clear. But anytime a small cult film gets on blu-ray is a win. “Doc Savage” is so much fun, so delightfully different that I’m really shocked it doesn’t have more of a following. Anyone who has gone to see a Marvel film will find plenty to enjoy here “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze” is too much fun to ignore, and hopefully now that it’s out in HD on blu-ray more people will give it a chance. It deserves one. See you next week.
the casual word
By Langley Shazor Follow Langley on FB & Youtube at TheCasualword
22 | November 8, 2016 | theloaferonline.com
Kelvin’s Joules We search out degrees To warm our minds Increasing difficulty That we may move at any angle we choose Each level mastered Bringing us closer to completion Using coordinates We navigate quickly There isn’t much time left Latitudinal steps Cross longitudinal zones Our acute focus Leaves no room for obtuse vision
Any deviation Changes the course of history A global phenomenon In a cold world Full of warm bodies Checking temperatures Signs of sickness Emotions boil over In an uncovered melting pot The power of the mind Educated or not Can shift your sightline Permanently
theloaferonline.com | November 8, 2016 | 23
Boo! A Madea Halloween
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adea is back on the big screen in her eight big screen adventure, “Boo! A Madea Halloween”, and in the films opening weekend, the comedy horror outing came in a surprising number one. Tyler Perry’s latest effort is the second in the film series not to be adapted from a stage play, and features the grumpy but lovable character stealing the film from the other actors. The story involves the character of Brian (Perry), a divorced dad, catching his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) flirting with some locals at a nearby frat house, and securing an invitation to the Fraternity’s upcoming Halloween party. This does not sit well with Brian, who calls Madea (Perry) to sit with his daughter, and her best friend Aday (Liza Koshy), and keep them in the house while
Rated PG-13 2 1/2 pumpkins (out of 4) he is away. Madea brings along her cousin Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis), and friend Hattie Mae (Patrice Lovely). For good measure Uncle Joe Simmons (Perry) comes along as well. The house “visitors” does not sit well with Tiffany, and she devises a plan so she and Aday can sneak out of the house to the frat party. Tiffany’s plan succeeds until Madea discovers the girls have slipped out of the house and proceeds to take a trip to the Halloween party to bring the wayward girl back home. Of course, upon entering the frat house, Madea is met by fraternity president Jonathan (Yousef Erakat), who tells the upset intruder he knows nothing about Tiffany. At this point, Madea is full on mad and is making progress until the frat boys literally throw her out of the party. The aforementioned action sets off a chain of events that result in Madea and crew having a harrowing Halloween night. During all the Halloween chills and pranks, there are lessons learned by both the young people and the adults. As expected, the film ends, albeit abruptly, on a positive note. The character of Madea has been around for so long it feel like she is a long lost relative to movie fans. Perry was certainly busy during the making of this new film as not only did he play three characters, but he wrote, directed and co-produced the film. Whew. While the film was a fun way to celebrate during the Halloween season, I did have a couple of problems with this effort. I feel if you are trying to appeal to a broader audience, including younger children, there could have been a bit less profanity, as the great messages in the film could still have been delivered effectively with fewer curse words. The other issue I had, was I felt the film could have delivered more “belly” laughs. This is the type of film that is definitely over-the-top, and at times silly, and for those very reasons I hoped for more laughs. Don’t get me wrong, just the
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site of Madea running with certain body parts flapping about, provides plenty of laughs, just more of those types of moments were needed. Overall, while “Boo! A Madea Halloween” was a fun time at the movies, I just hope if the character has another Halloween themed film, the script is better than a half-carved pumpkin.
PAINT PARTY AT HAWG N DAWG East TN Rocks meet up
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ave you found one of our rocks around town and on the trails? This group was created to bring the community together through creativity and activity! This is a chance to see how it is done and create a happy treasure to share. Feel free to bring your own supplies or use some of ours. We will have paints, brushes, and of course rocks! Stop by anytime 11/10/16 between 5pm-7pm at the Hawg N Dawg on the corner of Union St and Main in downtown Erwin. This started as a Facebook group only 3 months ago for our area but anyone is welcomed to participate even if they are not on Facebook. The idea is simple…paint a rock, hide (plant) the rock, post a picture and/ or clue where it is hidden. If you find someone’s rock you can keep it or rehide it and post to the page because it is great to know your rock made someone smile! East TN Rocks – Melanie Patterson I was looking for a way to remember my mom, Nancy Caldwell, who was an amazing woman that changed my hometown in unimaginable ways by bringing the community together. I want to create something that she would be proud of and continue her legacy. To learn more please visit our Facebook group East TN Rocks or call 423-341-2845
FIVE MILE MOUNTAIN BAND @ CARTER FAMILY FOLD
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aturday, November 12th, 2016, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by Five Mile Mountain Road. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, children 6 to 11 $2, under age 6 free. Five Mile Mountain Road is a Franklin County, Virginiabased bluegrass, old time, and classic country band with an emphasis on music for dancing. With front man Billy Hurt sawing the fiddle, Five Mile Mountain Road is known throughout the region for superb dance tunes and world-class instrumentation. Seth Boyd (banjo & guitar), Brennen Ernst (guitar & banjo), and Steven Dowdy (upright bass) round out the group’s lineup. Named after one of Franklin County’s signature rural byways, the group is one of the best up and coming bands around. All the members of Five Mile Mountain Road have had experience playing with other well-known bands. Five Mile Mountain Road has been featured on Song of the Mountains, at the Blueridge Music Center, at Ferrum College, and at the Floyd Country Store. These are just a few of the many venues the group has played. This concert will mark the band’s first performance at the Carter Family Fold, although several of the members have played the Fold previously with groups like Karl Shiflett and Big Country and the Bluegrass Brothers. Check out the group on Face Book and You Tube. Pack up your dancing shoes, relatives, and friends and come join us at the Fold for a night of some of the best music the Appalachian region has to offer. At the Carter Fold, you’ll find a family-friendly venue where people of all ages come from near and far to experience Appalachian music and culture at its’ best. Don’t miss Five Mile Mountain Road at the Carter Family Fold! Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold.org or http://www.carterfamilyfold.com. For recorded information on upcoming shows at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – @carterfoldinfo.
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Rails to Trails Adventures
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Photo and article by
ow time flies doesn’t it? It seems like we were just excited about the cooler temperatures and chance to get outdoors to enjoy autumn, and here it is already the second week of November! Already stores have ripped down the Halloween décor and placed Christmas trees on every corner. While some of our readers might actually enjoy the cold that settles in throughout December, others of us are not so thrilled with the prospect of bundling up to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. November is our last chance to enjoy “normal” temperatures until spring rolls around again. Sometimes, however, it’s hard for us to the time in our busy schedules to escape the city and venture into the wilds of the mountains. The distance we must drive to find recreation areas can vary, and we are blessed here in the Tri-Cities to have the Cherokee National Forest and other parks right at our doorstep. It is always a great idea to expand the parks and recreation areas in our urban areas, because unless you live in a major metropolis, they are usually few and far between. One organization, the Rails to Trails Conservancy, has set out to do just that by an ingenious means: recycling abandoned railroad lines by developing them into walking and biking trails. We already covered one of the best examples of this development in one of our first articles when we biked the Virginia Creeper Trail. Since it was first established in 1986, the conservancy has worked tirelessly year after year to secure new land for further expansion. The idea was hardly new at the time; railroads were first converted into walking trails back in the mid 60’s, according to the foundation’s website. It wasn’t until the conservancy first came together, however, that it really picked up traction, and the first 250 miles of trails quickly expanded to the over 25,000 miles they include today. As mentioned before, the Virginia Creeper Trail is often presented as the prime example of the benefits that these conversion projects can have, not only on us as individuals, but also on the surrounding land, communities, and economy. Stretching over 30 miles from White Top to Abingdon, Virginia, the route passes through some of the most beautiful portions of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and adjacent farmlands across the Tennessee Valley. Not only does it promote exercise, but it also serves to inspire locals and visi-
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tors alike to see the importance of conserving our wilderness areas. The economy also benefits as thousands of visitors come through each month to experience the trail for themselves. If you still have not had a chance to check it out, now would be a perfect time before winter hits. Of course, not all such trails are wilderness excursions that require a day to complete. Many of you are no doubt familiar with our own Tweetsie Trail. Just recently having opened in 2014, the trail connects Johnson City to the nearby town of Elizabethton, covering almost 10 miles. Passing through residential communities and past rural landscapes, the trail has multiple places to jump on or off the trail. It also provides a connection with the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, giving residents a new way to access the park. There is talk of extending it further all the way to Roan Mountain, providing even more opportunities for locals and visitors. Whether you have time for a short morning run or half a day to bike the entire length, this local gem is not to be missed! Just a short drive north across the state line lies the Salt Trail, a gravel path that connects the towns of Saltville and Glade Springs. While it doesn’t see the same number of visitors as the trails discussed thus far, it still provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy the rural countryside that makes southwest Virginia so appealing. This is also one of the few such trails that allows equestrians access as well, so if you have a horse, saddle up! Just a word of caution; the trail is still a work in progress, so there are a few sections that are not completed thus far. It is not hard to see the correct route, just be sure to watch your footing. These three are just a few examples of the rails to trails conversions which have been completed in our area. There are many more we haven’t discussed, however, such as Railroad Grade Road Trail across the mountain in Boone, N.C. Future trails are in the works, such as several nearby in Knoxville, and the aforementioned extension to the Tweetsie Trail here in our own backyard. Remember, this is an ongoing process, and the conservancy is open to volunteers who wish to do their part and help with the construction of new trails. Donations are also welcomed, as access points and other lands are sometimes necessary to purchase as part of the construction process. A great resource to visit is the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s official website, at www.traillink.com, as it has maps and a search engine to help you find trails located across the region and anywhere else you might find yourself during your travels.
Vietnam Veteran and Steeler great Rocky Bleier visits Northeast State
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person worthy of being called heroic embodies determination, discipline, teamwork, and sacrifices their wants and needs for the sake of others. Few personify that word better than Rocky Bleier. Northeast State Community College proudly welcomes the Pittsburgh Steelers legend and Vietnam Veteran to campus on Nov. 10 for a presentation about service and winning against impossible odds. Bleier’s presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts Theater on the Blountville campus next to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. In a captivating presentation, Robert Patrick “Rocky” Bleier defines what it takes to succeed in times of change, conquer insurmountable odds, and become an extraordinary achiever. Through his story of courage and determination, he motivates audiences to reach for their goals, despite all obstacles. A native of Appleton, Wis., Bleier starred at football in high school and earned a scholarship to the prestigious University of Notre Dame. When he graduated from college in 1968, he found himself selected in two drafts – one by the Steelers of the National Football League and one by the United States Army. At the height of the Vietnam War, Bleier was thrust into combat and was seriously wounded when his platoon ran into an ambush. Receiving wounds from both rifle fire and grenade fragments in his legs, Bleier’s injuries were severe. Doctors told him his professional football career was over and he would likely never walk again. Defeating all odds, Bleier spent two years rehabilitating his body and regained his running back position on the Steelers’ squad. He became a cornerstone of the team that would win four Super Bowls during the 1970s. The hard lessons Bleier learned early in life that helped him overcome adversity and reach his goals have paid off after football. Some of those lessons are described in the popular book on his life, Fighting Back, and most recently a stage production called The Play with Rocky Bleier. Bleier was the recipient of the 2015 Eagle Rare Life Heroism Award for his incredible drive and inspirational story. He remains active in numerous social and veteran’s causes includ-
ing Operation Strong Vet, Warriors2Citizens, and Vietnam Veterans of America. He coowns and serves as a managing member of RBVetCo, a servicedisabled, veteran-owned company specializing in construction and value engineering. For more information about this event, contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at 423.354.2528 or jmadcox@northeaststate. edu.
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It’s trotting time in Johnson City!
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he 11th annual Turkey Trot 5K Road Race and Family Fun Run/Walk is set for Thanksgiving morning (Thursday, Nov. 24). As always, the Turkey Trot will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Legion Street in Johnson City, near Memorial Park Community Center. An awards ceremony for the overall winners will be held at Cardinal Park immediately following the race. “We welcome competitive runners, casual runners, walkers, kids, strollers, wheelchairs, handcycles, dogs … we don’t want a single member of your family left behind,” said Race Chairwoman Jenny Brock. Children have a strong presence at the Turkey Trot, and area schools are awarded cash prizes based on participation. Students are also encouraged to participate in a coloring and essay contest. Like last year, the winners will be named grand marshals of the Turkey Trot. “For this year’s essay contest, we want our elementary-age children to tell us about their favorite places to visit in our area,” said Race Director Karen Hubbs.
“The Turkey Trot has truly become a tourist attraction – people come from across the country to participate. We want to know what else kids love to do in Johnson City.” Submission forms have been distributed to area elementary schools and can also be downloaded at www.jcturkeytrot.org. Deadline for entries is Nov. 11. Charitable Giving In the past 10 years, the Turkey Trot has awarded more than $100,000 to organizations that promote health and wellness in our area. This year’s recipient will be the ETSU Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education, with proceeds supporting its Olympic Day and USA Track and Field’s Run, Jump, Throw program. “The Turkey Trot was created to promote a healthy lifestyle. The whole idea was to earn that big Thanksgiving meal. So, we take a lot of pride in putting those proceeds toward other endeavors that support the overall wellness of our citizens,” Brock said. “Olympic Day and the Run, Jump, Throw program serve an important purpose – introducing our youngest citizens to athletic skills that can serve them for a lifetime.” The Turkey Trot also awards a total of $3,500 to the top three
TROT . . . continued on page 31
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Answers on page 32
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TROT . . . continued from page 29 schools with the most participants in two divisions. Sponsors To Date Gold Sponsors: ABC Tri-Cities, City of Johnson City, Johnson City Medical Center, NewsChannel 11, The Wellness Center Silver Sponsors:Culligan Water, Dempsey’s Jewelers, Dr. Carlson & Associates, Johnson City Press, Krispy Kreme, Mashburn Outdoor, Natural Pet Supply, One Stop Wines & Spirits, Re/Max Checkmate, Wallabies, WXBQ Bronze Sponsors: Appalachian Animal Hospital, Axis Security, Boyd Sports, Cartridge World, Chick-fil-A West Market Street, Dean Foods, Ferguson Enterprises, Firehouse Restaurant, Food City, the Fresh Market, Johnson City Development Authority, Just Store It, Katz America, News & Neighbor, Pepsi Bottling Company, Summit Leadership Foundation, Tri-Cities Turtles, U.S. Cleaners, Walmart, Wash. Co./Johnson City/Jonesborough Chamber of Commerce Registration Information Registration for the Turkey Trot is now under way at www.jcturkeytrot.org. Early registrants (by Nov. 20) are guaranteed the best price and one of the always-popular long-sleeved Turkey Trot Tshirts. Online registrations will close at midnight Nov. 20. Early registration by midnight Nov. 20 is $25 for adults; $20 for students (18 and younger). Late registration (Nov. 22-23) is $30 for adults; $25 for students. A special discount will be available for families of five or more (living in the same household) that register by Nov. 20. There will be no registrations the day of the event. Packet pick-up and late registrations will be at Memorial Park Community Center from 10 a.m.8 p.m. Nov. 22 and 23. A wheelchair division will be offered again this year, and strollers are allowed. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are allowed to start at the back of the pack, and owners are asked to please pick up after their pets. For more information about the 5K USATF-certified course, trophy categories, school awards and prizes, parking areas, and road closures please visit www.jcturkeytrot.org. and like the Johnson City Turkey Trot 5K on Facebook. Event management for the Turkey Trot is provided by The Goose Chase.
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things to do
Do Something BIG Bringing Hope Through Mentoring: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Have you ever wondered how you can do something BIG to make a difference in the life of a child in need? Sometimes just having someone to talk with can turn a path of hopelessness into one of survival. That’s one of the compelling premises behind the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities. Spending 2 to 4 hours a month with an atrisk youth can help them improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem. Our local Big Brothers Big Sisters office is part of one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States. It’s a system that has been proven to work and transforms the lives of children who might not otherwise ever get the support they need to grow and successfully meet life’s challenges. Child-volunteer matches are made based on in-depth and comprehensive interviewing with parents, children and
potential volunteers. Stringent safeguards are in place to assure that all parties are safe. Volunteer and parent engagement and training also play a big role. Anyone wanting to find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities should contact the office by calling 423-247-3240, or visiting TennesseeBig.org.3, 2016. Free. Info: www.folkheritage. org or (828)258-6101 x345.
Food for Fines & Pet Food for Fines
The Washington County Libraries are accepting donations of food for area food banks during the month of November in lieu of collecting fines for overdue materials. The Jonesborough Library will be donating their collections to the Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association’s Food Pantry (JAMA). The Gray Library is collecting for the Gray Community Chest Food Pantry.
The foods needed are assorted canned food items (fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.), dried beans, cereal, peanut butter, rice and pasta, cereals, boxed dinners. Also included are baby formula and baby food. Remember though, we cannot accept glass containers, perishable food, or out-of-date items. Both libraries are also doing a Pet Food for Fines drive. Donations will go to Good Samaritan Ministries Pet Food Pantry. We can accept canned cat/dog food, cat litter, bagged food (small bags preferred), treats, and potty- pads. No open packages please! For each qualified item donated, $1.00 in fines will be forgiven. Payment for lost or damaged library materials and processing fees are not included in the program. Even if you do not have fines, please donate! There are many in our communities that depend on these services.
DONATIONS NEEDED!
Good Samaritan Ministries is a local, non- profit organization that provides for the emergency needs for the homeless and low income in-
Cryptogram: There are two ways of exerting one’s strength - one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. Drop Quote: “Good habits, which bring our lower passions and appetites under automatic control, leave our natures free to explore the larger experiences of life.”
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redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating. Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Elizabethton 11/14/2016: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Oak Street Baptist Church, 804 Oak St. _______________ Mountain City 11/8/2016: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Johnson County EMS Rescue, 203 Vandilla St. _______________ Erwin 11/11/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 307 S. Main Ave. _______________ Johnson City Give blood with the 11/8/2016: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., American Red Cross be- East Tennessee State - Culp fore the holiday season Center, Culp Center, ETSU 11/9/2016: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., and help save lives The American Red Cross East Tennessee State - Culp encourages eligible donors to Center, Culp Center, ETSU give blood to help stock the shelves before the busy holiSenior Services to offer day season. Many regular donors delay Friday Night Dances Citizens are invited to put giving between Thanksgiving on their dancing shoes and join and New Year’s Day because Senior Services the first and of holiday activities. This often third Friday of each month to causes a drop in donated blood dance the night away. Memoavailable for patients. Thererial Park Community Center, fore, more donations are need510 Bert St., will host Friday ed in the weeks leading up to Night Dances from 7-10 p.m. the holidays to help ensure Admission is $5 per person; the blood supply is sufficient Silver Sneakers® discount is through the winter months. For blood donor Katie Oso- available for eligible members. rio, giving a little bit of time (Pricing may vary for special is worth it because she’s giv- events.) Schedule is as follows: ing someone a chance at life. • Friday, Nov. 18 “Someone’s mother, brother, Eddie Skelton Band sister, father or the love of • Friday, Dec. someone’s life has been given Jerry Pierce Band back to their loved ones all be- • Friday, Dec. 16 – Christmas cause I gave something that I Dance with Kids Our Age could. It takes so little from me Please register in person at the and gives a world back to an- MPCC Senior Services desk. For more information, call other.” To make an appointment (423)434-6237.. to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, BLOOD PRESSURE visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733- READINGS Free blood pressure readings 2767). Donors are encouraged daily, Mon-Fri a by an RN, 8-11 to make appointments and am. Memorial Park Commucomplete the RapidPass online nity Center, Johnson City. health history questionnaire at
dividuals and families in eight counties. We are restocking our food pantry weekly to meet the needs of the less fortunate. Items such as canned foods, beans, mac & cheese, peanut butter, soups, flip top canned snacks, etc. are needed now. We are beginning reservations for Christmas and Thanksgiving food boxes and really need your help and support for that mission. Can you help today? Please call Good Samaritan Ministries at 928-0288, drop off at 100 N. Roan Street, Johnson City or learn more at www. goodsamjc.org. Help us feed the homeless and hungry.
pets of the week
Jiggers is a 3 year old Lab mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. This sweet girl has been at the shelter for a while and is ready to go home with a family! She is good with other dogs.
Mercedes is a 4 year old Lab mix and is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. She is a little shy at first but is friendly and likes other dogs. Like her buddy Jiggers she has been at the shelter for a while. Please consider her as your furrbaby! The 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
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PLACING A CLASSIFED LINE AD:
Go to: www.theloaferonline.com, create an account, and enter your classified. Call 423282-1907 or email: classifieds@theloaferonline.com if you have any questions.
Game of Baloney, The Game of Things, Salem: A Card Game of Tri Cities Ladies Only Board Deception and Exploding KitGame Group - 423-609-575 tens. This is a Meetup group for 70 Real Estate ladies either bi, lesbian or straight who are serious about KINGSPORT LOT for sale by playing board/card games. We owner. 423-247-7959 want ladies who will actually $ 8,500.00 attend game nights. The goal of the group is for ladies to 107 Services meet, get to know each other, Interior Painter form friendships while play- Phone: 423-361-0325 ing different types of games: Don’t purchase new kitchen Cards Against Humanity, Mas- cabinets!!! Have them painted querade, Nanuk, Coup, Cash by CEP Painter. CEP Painter is N Guns, Dixit, One Night Ulti- an interior finish painter, we mate Vampire, Smart Ass, The do everything from walls to
63 Community
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trim to ceilings to cabinets!! Pictures and references available. Free estimates. Licensed and insured. Pet Grooming Professional Pet groomer for most dog breeds and cats. Over 20 years experience. I can have most pets groomed and ready to go home in 2 hours. This eliminates stress on your pet. Groom includes trim,bath,blow dry,ear cleaning,anal gland expression and nail trim. Located at 410 Hazelwood St Bristol TN. Visit our Family Pet Grooming Facebook page. Prices start at 25.00 Give is a try, you Will be glad you did. Call or text for an appointment 276-591-0877
terior finish painter, we do everything from walls to trim to ceilings to cabinets!! Pictures and references available. Free estimates. Licensed and insured. 423-361-0325
Affordable Professional Wedding & Event Photography Phone: 423-956-0820 N&N Photography offers Affordable Professional Wedding and Event Photography in Johnson City, Tn and surrounding areas. We photograph Events, Engagements, Weddings, Prom, Senior, Glamour Portraits, Sports, Graduation, Family, Sweetheart, Individual Portrait Shoots (male or female), & more. See our website at: www.nandnphotoshoot. Interior Painting (Senior Spe- com and our Facebook page at: cials ! ) 315-725-0562 https://www.facebook.com/ Interior Painting - A new paint nandnphotoshoot/ for more job inside will make your information and pricing. home feel like a million bucks Model Call** ! Beautiful soothing, appealing Phone: 423-956-0820 COLORS ! Bedrooms, Living **Model Call: I am looking for Rooms, ALL Rooms, Whole 2 models, one male 18+ and House ! High Quality Painting one female 18+. No modeling Service. GET IT DONE IN OCexperience needed. One for a TOBER BEFORE THE HOLImale edgy masculine portrait DAYS ! SENIOR SPECIAL ! shoot, the female for a glamCall / text David TODAY @ our portrait shoot. Your shoot 423-930-8097 will take place on a weekday at a local outdoor public park/ For The Best Hair Services venue in the tri-city area, TN. In The Tri-Cities Area 423-534-9825. We are a full ser- For modeling you will receive vice salon owned and operated a complimentary photo shoot, by hair stylist Sandi Smith, that professional makeover, 2 finoffers professional cuts, styles, ished images on a dvd and colors, perms, waxing, mani- the experience to be a model cures, and pedicures all at affordable prices. The best prices in the Tri-Cities area. Mens haircuts are $10. Womens are $12. Sandi has over 32 years experience in the business and she wants to help you get your style on! We are located at 943 Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, Tennessee, near Auto Zone. Appointments available and Walk-ins welcome.
for a day! If you are interested please email us. Thank you! Yarntiques Yarntiques offers a large variety of hand knitting/crochet yarns from cotton to cashmere. Instruction is offered during business hours: Tuesday - Friday 1:00 - 6:00 and Saturday 10:00 - 5:30, Call for details. Come join the community table, anytime during business hours, for conversation, fellowship and knitting/crochet assistance. Mention this ad and receive a 10% discount on your purchase. Phone: 423-232-2933
137 Transportation
1999 Mazda Miata for sale Price: $ 1,600.00 Needs some work. Black on black. 131,000 miles. $1,600.00. Call 423-833-2095
145 Mind, Body & Spirit
Stop Smoking Naturally with Hypnosis! Tired of being chained to the deadly habit of smoking? Are you motivated to stop smoking without using chemicals or chewing gum or wearing patches? I can help motivate you to stop this expensive, negative, unhealthy habit. Call us today at A New Path Hypnosis, 423-341-8898 or visit www.anewpathhypnosis.com to get started living a healthier life today. Free information session for all new clients.
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21st CENTURY PLAY-DOH
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es, there is an app for that. Play-Doh, that is. You’re probably not surprised that the quintessential “old school” plaything has just been updated to mold into our app-infused world. On my birthday last week, I was excited to learn that Hasbro had released its first-ever Play-Doh app to an unsuspecting world. Called “Play-Doh Touch,” this new app allows its users (which are supposed to be “Kids 5 & Under” according to the Apple App Store) to “Create a world of hands-on adventures,” while seeing their “physical Play-Doh creations come to life virtually in ways beyond imagination.” Well, I wouldn’t go quite that far, because these creations are within the boundaries of imagination, but in some pretty unexpected and unusual ways. The way this app works is reasonably simple. The user, which will probably not be a five-or-younger child (more likely a curious adult), molds a figure from a blob of real Play-Doh, and then places their creation on a while background; for $40.00, they, or their parents, can purchase a deluxe kit which includes a pricey white circle. The next step is taking a picture of their creation with their phone or tablet’s camera. In a few seconds, the static Play-Doh creation will magically come to life, ready for some creative storytelling against a video-game-like cartoon background provided by the app. According to an Engadget review of this app, users who want to invest their money in the Studio option “can also use stamps to create balloons, wings, musical notes and potions to make the characters fly, dance and multiply” (I guess the less said about this the better). Further, these characters “differ in style based on the color of the Play-Doh. For instance, using different hues for the music note changes the background song to which your creature dances.” Try doing that with a (now) old-fashioned lump of inactive Play-Doh. Not having a can of Play-Doh handy when I installed the Touch app in my iPad put me at a disadvantage. For some reason, the picture I took of my fountain pen left a lot to be desired when it was transformed into a rather dull animated figure. I guess you have to use real Play-Doh in order for the app to work its magic. Touch seems to me a variation of the popular Aurasma app that allows users to designate a “target” object that comes alive with videos and text when the user hovers his or her camera over it. Needless to say, the Play-Doh Touch app has already brought out the usual suspects of critics who worry that it will take its users away from the “real world” of outdoor play and face-to-face interaction. We’ve heard all this before. But this time there are certain experts who are now assuring us that a moderate amount of “screen time” will not harm our delicate and impressionable children. Why do we never seem to worry about how adults are going to be affected by all these gadgets? In a very informative Family Opinion column about this new app, Sohaila Abdulali informs us that “’Screen time’ has, after all, become the demon of our times. Our grandparents worried about polio; our parents worried about television; and we worry iThis, iThat, and iOther will turn our kids into zombies.” Abdulali admits that “Yet I look around myself, and the kids I see are way smarter than I ever was” (a sentiment that is confirmed by Steven Johnson in his influential and very wise book, EVERYTHING BAD IS GOOD FOR YOU). And we should be relieved that the American Association of Pediatrics “has revised its screen guidelines” to assure us that sensible amounts of screen time might indeed be beneficial to our offspring and their friends. We should, after all, apply a little common sense to what we allow our children to do. According to Abdulali, “let-
ting your preschooler browse Tinder for an hour probably isn’t the best use of her time, but then neither is playing outside in traffic where there are no screens.” Of course, as we all know, there are plenty of screens outside in traffic. Screens are everywhere, and we can rarely escape them. All this new Play-Doh stuff is an example of what is being more and more described as “immersive reality.” In so many ways, we have gone beyond the restraints of “virtual reality,” because what used to be virtual is now all-too-real. Immersive reality erases the distinctions between what is real and what is makebelieve. When a five-year-old child watches his or her Play-Doh creation come alive, he or she doesn’t divide the world into real and virtual but considers both
the lump of Play-Doh and its animated counterpart to be ingredients in the same world. “Make-believe” has become the new real, and we should prepare to be immersed in this brave new world. Play-Doh is an apt symbol of immersive reality because it has always been very malleable and “plastic,” giving its users permission to mold it in seemingly endless ways. Taking the step of making Play-Doh come alive on a screen is very understandable and even necessary. Who knows? Maybe one day in the not-toodistant future, when devices like Google Glass totally erase the boundaries between “real” and “virtual,” we might be waxing nostalgically over our memory of a time when our children had to stare into a screen to summon the world of virtual reality. Hopefully, you will find time to create something imaginative with Play-Doh this week. Go ahead, awaken your inner child. Looking forward to having you as a guest at Kelly’s Place again next week.
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