VIPSEEN June 2019

ALSO INSIDE: YWCA Tribute to Women, Go Red for Women, 100+ Tri-Cities Women Who Care Second Big Give, Northeast Foundation Derby Party, and much more

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VIPSEEN

contents

FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Angela J. Baker angela@vipseenmag.com

EVENTS

CO-OWNER Mickey J. Baker

ABINGDON 22 An Evening with Jane Seymour 23 Virginia Creeper Fest 23 Blue Ridge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Ribbon Cutting 24 Restore my Sole 5k 25 EMS Strong 5K BRISTOL 27 YWCA Tribute to Women 28 Wine, Women, and Shoes 29 Lutrell Staffing ribbon cutting 32 Plein Air Festival reception JOHNSON CITY 33 WUJ Medical Alliance 34 Down and Derby with the Bucs 35 Henry Johnson Birthday Bash 36 Keller Williams Red Day 37 Pitches and Pints 2019 38 Croquet for a Cause 39 Bag-A-Bargain 39 One Acre Cafe Silent Auction 40 Johnson City School Foundation Spell-A-Bration 49 Corazon Latino Festival 50 5k Buddy Run 51 Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year 52 Tri-Cities Autism Conference 53 Purses and Pearls 54 100+ Tri-Cities Women Who

Care Second Big Give 55 Pie Wars “Return of the Dough” 56 Pickin’ in the Schoolyard 57 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 58 State of Johnson City luncheon 59 Blue Jean Ball & Benefit

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Angelica Ares angelica_a@vipseenmag.com EVENTS COORDINATOR Allison Galloway allison@vipseenmag.com SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Nathan Mays COPY EDITOR Lucy Honeychurch BEAUTY EDITOR Sherri Jessee

KINGSPORT 62 Junior Achievement Tri-Cities Business

Hall of Fame 66 Go Red for Women 2019 68 Marsh Regional Blood Center 6th Annual

Scholarship Golf Tournament 69 BUDS Prom 2019 70 Run Like a Princess 5k 71 Appalachian March for Babies 72 Talk Derby to Me 73 Ballet and Bubbly 74 The Medal of Honor Luncheon 76 Painting for a Cure 77 Appalachian Highlands Twenty Under 20 78 Kingsport Chamber Fourth Friday 80 Red Cross Humanitarian of the year 2019

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ACCOUNT MANAGERS Lark Adams lark@vipseenmag.com Kirsten Hall kirsten@vipseenmag.com Beth Muncy beth@vipseenmag.com

Whitney Carr whitney@vipseenmag.com Morgan King morgan@vipseenmag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rachel Burruss Courtney Carberry Crystal Dawn Carter Linda Coffey Allison Galloway Lexie Little Alice Salyer Beth Street Haley White PHOTOGRAPHY Rachel Burruss Courtney Carberry Crystal Dawn Carter Linda Coffey Allison Galloway Lexie Little Alice Salyer Haley White

JONESBOROUGH 60 Women’s Leadership Society

United Way of Washington County ERWIN 60 The Great Outdoor Festival

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Haley White

DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION Barbara Werner

BLOUNTVILLE 79 Northeast Foundation Derby Party

DISTRIBUTION Charles Kilgore Martin Kilgore Mark Kilgore Leslie Morgan VIPSEEN, Inc., Tri-Cities 151 E. Main Street, Suite 5 Kingsport, TN 37660 423.398.5321 vipseenmag.com

Contents

JUNE 2019

FEATURES

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SPECIAL FEATURE MEN OF MEASURE

6

COVER STORY HEALTHY LIVING

A Q&A with Alan Levine

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SPECIAL FEATURE ALZHEIMER’S & BRAIN AWARENESS

DEPARTMENTS

A partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association – Northeast Tennessee regional office for this exclusive feature to help create awarenessss for Alzheimer’s disease.

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VIPBEAUTY

MEN’S HAIR TIPS

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VIPHOME

GANGSTER SPEAKEASY LOFT

ALSO INSIDE: YWCA Tribute to Women, Go Red for Women, 100+ Women Who Care Second Big Give, Northeast Foundation Derby Party, and much more

on the cover Alan and Laura Levine with Gibbs, Macy, and Oakley Johnson City, Tennessee

Photography by Nathan Mays Photography

MEN of 2019 VIPSEEN

MEASURE TABLE OF CONTENTS 6

COVER STORY – HEALTHY LIVING: A Q & A with Alan Levine

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DR. TIMOTHY DUNNE, DC Advocate Integrated Medicine, Owner

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VIPBEAUTY: MEN’S HAIR TIPS

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DAVID MALLORY & TODD FIELDS Mallory-Fields Home Furnishings/Design, Owners

14

VIPHOME: GANGSTER SPEAKEASY LOFT

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RUSS ROGERS Honda of Kingsport, Managing Partner & Author “The 17 Laws of Parenting” & “The 17 Laws of Marriage”

vipseenmag.com

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HEALTHY

LIVING A Q&A with Alan Levine

STORY BY LEXIE LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN MAYS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Ballad Health Chairman, President and CEO Alan Levine remains in the public eye for his professional work across the south. Prior to his current role in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, he served in the administrations of former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as a senior health policy advisor, among other duties, during more than 25 years of service in the health sector.

A graduate of the University of Florida who holds a bachelor’s degree in health science and master’s degrees in health sciences and business administration, Levine has overseen health care responses to major hurricanes, advocated for improved child immunization rates, and served on several educational boards, including the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida and SCORE Tennessee.

But, like all people, Levine leads a life outside the professional sphere.

He is a husband, father, friend, and community member who frequents Tri-Cities restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues – essentially, he is a neighbor.

MEET ALAN LEVINE, THE NEIGHBOR: You’ve lived in gulf states and in Appalachia. Do you most enjoy the beach or the mountains? Why? Alan Levine (AL) –I love the Mountains way more – it’s not even close. I grew up camping each summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I love everything – the four

seasons, the fresh air, and even the winding roads. Nothing beats the amazing views. God did amazing work, and you can see it all here.

What are your favorite summer activities in the Tri-Cities? (AL) I love FunFest. And, of course, the Niswonger Golf Classic. Bringing the Tennessee Long Shots here was a big deal, and I’m excited about that event. I enjoy being outdoors and just enjoying the moderate heat.

You must often travel for work. Where is your favorite travel destination?

Why? (AL) I don’t really have a favorite. What I do know is I’m always glad to get home.

Where is your original home – where did you grow up? (AL) Two places. I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. But I ended up attending a military school in St. Petersburg, Florida, from the time I was 15. Pretty much lived in Florida most of my life since then.

What did a younger you, say, 5-year-old Alan, envision as his future career path? (AL) Well, at five, I had a tough time. My mother died suddenly, and I remember being pretty angry about it. So, I committed myself to being a doctor, and growing up, that’s all I wanted to be. I was motivated by losing my mom. Losing my mother at five was a hugely adverse event in my life. I wanted to stop other kids from losing their parents, and so I was going to be a doctor.

When you are that age, I suppose you don’t understand the fragility of life.

Then, in college, I made the mistake of taking chemistry first period. You kind of have to make it to class to pass chemistry. That was the end of that. [But] after I changed course in college, when I figured out I would not become a doctor, someone told me about hospital administration. I really wanted to work in health care and to help others. To this day, I’m a huge advocate for neurosciences and stroke services because I know the difference it makes. We are saving lives today that we couldn’t 45 years ago.

If you could tell your younger self anything, what might you tell him? (AL) Find joy in everything. Especially when things are tough, it’s so much better to be joyful and take the good that God provides. It’s easy to get distracted by the negative, and when that happens, you miss the opportunity to take advantage of gifts that are right in front of you. I’ve learned from seeing others who have dealt with so much difficulty, and I’m inspired by how, through it all, they find joy and peace.

On a lighter note, have you faced any fun challenges as a University of Florida graduate living among many Tennessee Volunteers? (AL) I love the rivalry. Living behind enemy lines is fun, as long as we keep winning. It may get a little tougher if the Vols’ fortunes change.

Do you or your family follow professional sports teams? Which teams?

(AL) I’m more of a college sports fan. I like the energy and competitiveness of college sports. I have a special fondness for the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Do you have any daily rituals important to you? (AL) My dogs always wake me up each morning, and I love that. We have an agreement that they will wake me up, and I will give them some treats and hang out with them for a while. I think they have trained me well.

Your children are grown, but you obviously still have your dogs at home.

Do you find that your dogs are like children in some ways? (AL) Someone once told me that dogs were put here by God to remind us each day what his love is like. Dogs love you unconditionally. They are always happy to see you no matter what. And all they want is for you to love them, too.

Rumors circulate saying you run a Twitter account about the thoughts of a dog. Is there any credence to that? What might be the reason behind it?

(AL) ...That is the best Twitter account ever...

“

In my view, the gift of life is so precious, and I believe we should give each young life the opportunity to experience the joy God intended for them to have.

What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time? (AL) I am really involved with serving on the Board of the State University System of Florida. I’m passionate about education, and that takes up a lot of my spare time. Besides that, I enjoy exercising and trying to learn new things.

You served state governments in Louisiana and Florida where many speak languages other than English. Do you speak a second language? (AL) I do not, and I regret that. I can understand Spanish, but I’m not conversant.

You have always been a strong advocate for education and continued learning. Who has been your greatest mentor or teacher in your life? Why? (AL) With regard to education, no one has taught me more than Jeb Bush.

He fought so hard to take on the education establishment on behalf of kids who have been failed by the system. Our schools went from being among the lowest performing to being among the highest ranked. We have been applying the same formula during my service on the Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida, and for the last three years, the Florida University System has been ranked No. 1 in the nation. Education reform is hard, and it requires challenging the norms. But, if you believe in what you are doing, you fight for it, and you see it through. I’ve tried to apply that to anything I take on.

What is something you hope to teach others as to shape the future? (AL) Family matters. It matters to little children who are developing. It matters to our spouses who are always there through the highs and the lows, and it is easy to take that for granted. The biggest mistakes you can make in your life will be when you don’t put your family first. I’ve learned that.”

What do you think is the biggest issue the world faces each day? (AL) I wish I were smart enough to have an answer for this question. Each of us has our perspectives on what is important, and that’s the beauty of our world.

Lastly, what is something people might not know about you that you think is key to who you are? (AL) My passion for children and their well-being comes from loss and experiences I had at a young age. My perspective on how we treat our kids comes from those experiences. We’ve learned that those early childhood experiences do have an impact on the kind of adults these kids will become, and it makes me even more passionate. In my view, the gift of life is so precious, and I believe we should give each young life the opportunity to experience the joy God intended for them to have. vipseenmag.com

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2019 VIPSEEN

MEN of

MEASURE

DR. TIMOTHY

DUNNE, DC Advocate Integrated Medicine Owner

GOD IS MY BEACON WHICH ALLOWS ME TO BE FOCUSED AND WHEN CHALLENGES COME, HE IS MY HOPE AND MY ROCK! 8

june 2019

Q& A LET’S BEGIN BY INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR READERS…TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO.

I’m Dr. Tim Dunne and with my wife Dr. Cindy Dunne, we run Advocate Integrated Medicine in Johnson City. We are a medical facility that specializes in joint pain and degeneration treatments with a Team approach of providers. Dr. Cindy is my high school sweetheart and together we have 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Our passion is to see others become their potential in all facets of their lives.

We enjoy the outdoors, anything that involves our kids and college football...

GO BLUE (MI)!

MANY OF US WORK TO BE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. WHAT CHANGE DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD OR EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY, OUR REGION?

We live in one of the most beautiful places east of the Mississippi, yet our quality of health is suffering. I would like to see the delivery of health care be just that....Health driven vs symptom driven. Let’s focus on a quality of life that gives us a body to experience life.

WHAT DREW YOU INTO THE BUSINESS AND/OR INDUSTRY THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN?

In my youth I was drawn to bodybuilding as a way to give me the health I needed to do what I felt was important. Serving people and watching them flourish in life is an

incredible experience to be apart of... and I wanted to see that daily.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST SUPPORTER? HOW HAS THEIR SUPPORT ENABLED YOU TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU DO?

My greatest supporter is my wife. I call her and the other women in my life “she-roes” because they are the glue that keeps our family whole.

Dr. Cindy is great about keeping it truthful and real. Our Kids are my greatest source of drive because I want to be their best example of love, integrity and passion in all you do.

WHAT ROLE DOES GOD PLAY IN YOUR LIFE & LEADERSHIP?

God is my beacon and allows me to be focused and, when challenges come, he is my hope and my rock!

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST RISK YOU’VE EVER TAKEN? DID IT PAY OFF?

Steve Harvey talks about jumping and the faith in God that it takes to jump.

I have “jumped” many times and as I grow older I realize the faith I have that the parachute WILL open, God IS there with me gives me a great deal of peace and a great deal of trust in the gifts God has given me. As long as you learn for your “risks”, you will grow... just keep driving.

Dr. Cindy and I moved to Atlanta, GA to attend Chiropractic school with little money and little support.

We were able to overcome our challenges by pulling together and never quitting. That move changed the trajectory of our lives and family.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BRING TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY WHAT YOU DO?

I want to bring love, hope and encouragement to folks suffering. Be open to different ideas and concepts, learn to be a better you every day. In health care, we will always speak of funding but I would like to have deep discussions on the delivery of health care. If not, we will be living examples of insanity...doing the same thing expecting different results.

THE WORLD CERTAINLY CAN BE A CHAOTIC PLACE AND WITH SO MUCH SOCIAL MEDIA OUR YOUTH ARE BOMBARDED WITH AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF MESSAGES BOTH NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE. WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD SAY TO YOUNG MEN IN ORDER TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE WORLD? WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU SHARE?

To the young men: you can never out-love, out-give and out-serve our creator. Dig deep and use the gifts you have been given to out do yourself every day. Every minute of the day say to yourself, who can I help right now?

How can I be an example to others of loving, serving and dominating the day.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT YOU FACE DAILY AS A LEADER IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?

How can I empower my staff and patients! Huge daily challenge because this is a moving target-daily. How do we create systems that allows us to enjoy what we do yet challenges us to be great!

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY ONE SUPERPOWER, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

HEALING! Without a doubt!

vipseenmag.com

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beauty

VIP

MEN’S HAIR TIPS

by Sherri Jessee

Sherri 's Recommendations • Cloak and Daggermen

• Double Agent Mint Shampoo • Extreme Ocean Salt Spray • Rogue Hardcore Pomade

Distribute the product thoroughly from roots to ends.

Pomade is versatile and allows you to restyle hair throughout the day.

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june 2019

MODEL: ERIC WHITE | HAIR & MAKEUP: SHERRI JESSEE | PHOTOGRAPHY: NATHAN MAYS PHOTOGRAPHY

cloakanddaggermen.com

Salt spray helps give a messy, undone look and helps add volume to fine hair.

Specially Designed Cosmetic Bag Easily carry your essentials in one neat, concise space.

Use a vent brush and blow dryer to stretch out the top.

Unique, Magnetic Compact with Full Mirror Super strong magnet holds your custom cosmetics securely.

Hours of Operation Tues-Fri, 9am-5pm

Make an appointment with the award winning hair and makeup artist, Sherri Jessee.

CALL TODAY! 1932 Euclid Avenue Bristol, VA 24201 276.466.2689 | sherrijessee.com

For more beauty tips, watch FAB FRIDAY Facebook Live Makeup Demonstrations at 8am every Friday and replay on VIPSEEN Live! on Facebook.

2019 VIPSEEN

MEN of

MEASURE

DAVID MALLORY TODD FIELDS Mallory-Fields Home Furnishings/Design Owners

YOUR HOME IS YOUR SANCTUARY. IT SHOULD BE THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND VISUALLY PLEASING PLACE POSSIBLE.

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Q& A TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELVES. David Mallory (DM) – I grew up in rural Rogersville, TN. I attended ETSU, majoring in Manufacturing Engineering. I have always been interested in artistic endeavors. Even as a child, I was always creating something, or rearranging the furnishings in my room.

Todd Fields (TF) – I am originally from Kingsport, TN. I attended ETSU, majoring in Mass Communications. I gained my appreciation for lovely interiors during my childhood. My Mother and Grandmother always had well appointed homes and I have always been drawn to anything beautiful.

We met in college and have been partners for over 33 years. We have worked together in various business ventures. The one that has been the most gratifying is MalloryFields Interiors. At Mallory-Fields we offer the region a wide selection of fine home furnishings and décor, as well as, top-notch design services.

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER ANYONE WHO IS JUST STARTING OUT AND WANTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL? First you must have a love for and be passionate about what you do. If you do not enjoy your work, it will become a drudgery. And in turn, you will have limited success. You must be honest. You have to have integrity. And you must provide great service to your clients.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK AS HARD AS YOU DO? Referring back to the previous question...we truly enjoy our work.

We never get up in the morning and dread going to work. In addition, we really enjoy providing well designed spaces for our clients. It is very gratifying when you transform a room for someone, who despite their best efforts, could not accomplish the look they wanted. I think a

lot people think that they should be able to decorate their home. Then after many failed attempts, they just stop trying. Your home is your sanctuary. It should be the most comfortable and visually pleasing place possible. That is why sometimes you need professional assistance.

We love it when out clients are pleased!

WHAT DREW YOU INTO THE BUSINESS AND/OR INDUSTRY THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN? We both have always enjoyed beautiful interiors. It was a “major hobby” for us.

We worked for years developing our skills.

We never really planned on becoming designers. We always received compliments from associates on our home. Then a guest attending one of our Holiday parties approached us about helping her with a new home that she had just purchased. And so it began. After completing this job, she referred us to her friends....and here we are some 20+ years later.

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPIEST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING AND IN THE COMMUNITY? Having an outlet for our artistic expression.

Being able to work around beautiful things everyday. Being involved in an industry that is constantly changing and offers so much versatility. And of course, the feeling of accomplishment, when we see a plan come together. Going from a collection of fabric swatches, paint and tile samples, photographs of furniture, and sketches to a completed vignette, is an awesome feeling.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS AN IMPORTANT TRAIT THAT HELPS YOU IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS DEALINGS? The relationships of trust that we have with our clients. They trust us to tell them the truth. We have clients that we have done multiple homes for. They know that we work hard to design spaces and make decisions that are best for them. No two clients are alike.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BRING TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY WHAT YOU DO? Your home is where you begin and end each day. It is where the story of your life is played out. It needs to be a space that is aesthetically pleasing but still functional. A well designed room can truly change your outlook on life.

Sometimes we have clients that have suffered losses. The new look of their home, sets them on a path of renewal. Knowing we were able to help them in that journey is very gratifying.

IS THERE A GAP BETWEEN WHAT OTHERS PERCEIVE YOU DO FOR A LIVING VERSES WHAT YOU ACTUALLY DO FOR ALIVING? Absolutely! Most people think that a profession that is “artistic” is something that is “fun”, and not really work. Whether your a dancer, actor, or painter, although not a drudgery, is not exactly what you would call fun.

People think that designers somehow wave a magic wand and POOF! Instant room. This is far from the truth. We spend countless hours, selecting combinations of color, texture, artwork, lighting, furnishings, accessories, etc.

We work with custom drapery and furniture manufacturers, to assure that our clients particular needs are met. Although it may not always be physical (which there is a lot of that as well)....it can be mentally exhausting. But we love it!

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY ONE SUPERPOWER, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? (TF) The ability to fly – not too high off the ground – maybe ten feet high. Ha! (DM) Teleportation – I would like to be able to just blink like “I Dream of Jeannie” and be anywhere in the world.

vipseenmag.com

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VIP

Home

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE HENSLEY, JOHNSON CITY AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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VIP

Home

gangster speakeasy

~loft~ STORY BY DAVID MALLORY AND TODD FIELDS

D

eep in the heart of Old Johnson City, sandwiched between two businesses, is a single, unassuming doorway. Unlock the door and visitors step into a stark, barren stairwell. Ascending the dimly lit stairs there seems to be nothing of interest awaiting anyone at the top, but turn the corner and a large oak door with a carved lion head means the promise of something interesting ahead.

Beyond the massive door is a sight that will transport any modern traveler back to the 1930’s. It is easy to re-imagine the room filled with suited men, with slicked back hair, smoking cigars, drinking whiskey, and playing poker.

Perhaps we can “see” flappers laughing and the owner seated in the corner keeping his eagle eye on the comings and goings in his illegal establishment.

When approached by our client, Micheal Whitehead, owner of Whitehead Construction, Inc. – we were told that he did not want a “typical loft”. He expressed that he wanted to create the look and feel of a 1930’s speakeasy.

Mr. Whitehead, an Al Capone aficionado, has always been intrigued with the 1930’s gangsters, and has a collection of vintage firearms, wanted posters, and other memorabilia that he wanted to showcase.

Johnson City is known as “Little Chicago”, and has been long rumored to have once been a hangout for Al Capone and other gangsters. So this downtown Johnson City location was a fitting location for this project. Our client wanted to have something “unlike anything else around”.

It was to be a place where he and his friends could meet to play poker, have some drinks or watch a ball game. It can be used as an accommodation for out of town corporate executives as well, but most importantly “it was to be a ‘man’s place’”. Not a typical man cave, but a sophisticated space, that reflected the opulence and grandeur of a highend speakeasy.

vipseenmag.com

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VIP

Home

We wanted to make the main room multi-functional. So we designated a seating area, a gaming area, a dining area, and a bar. Everything for this space was custom made. The cabinetry, the walnut paneled walls, all furniture, the chandeliers, and even the art work were all created, as per our design, to achieve the desired look.

GAMING AREA The game table is from England...Mahogany, leather top, brass fittings.

The gaming chairs were designed by us. We chose a warm brown leather and coupled it with a crimson red cowhide. Aged brass tacks finish the look.

A large crystal and brass chandelier illuminates the games below.

Three large carved wood mirrors harken back to the days of the Great Gatsby. Several brass wall sconces casts a soft glow upon the vintage brick walls.

SEATING AREA The large leather sectional is a one of a kind. Not another one like it exists. It is a play on a tufted Chesterfield sofa, but the low sleek design, gives it an Art Deco edge. (*Sidenote...due to its size and weight,the sofa had to be brought in through a window using a crane!) We separated the seating area, by using large carved wood columns and luxe green velvet drapery, with long gold bullion fringe.

The large animal print ottoman adds a little sex appeal. Add in the gorgeous chandelier, a dazzling carved wood, gold leaf mirror and a large portrait of Scarface himself, and this is a great space to have cocktails and conversation.

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VIP

Home

DINING AREA Across the way is a large television, enveloped in swagging yardage of green velvet...a nod to the movie palaces of old.

Below is a large custom green velvet banquette. Can’t you picture Al Capone seated in that booth...facing the room...making sure he is aware of everyone that enters? The large round dining table is also mahogany from England and provides seating for eight.

BAR AREA Then we have the custom kitchen, which was designed to create a “bar” look. Five custom green croc-leather barstools provide the seating. A vintage brass foot rail is the perfect touch! Hand carved detailing to the cabinetry also gives this space a sense of history.

No speakeasy would, of course, be complete without a hidden doorway. The Master bedroom is hidden away behind a bookcase. By knowing where to touch, anyone can open up the bookcase, to reveal a master bedroom that is rich with color and texture. Tailored to a masculine taste, this bedroom has dark reds, blacks, animal print, rich golds, and art that reflects a sophisticated masculine sensibility.

The walnut paneled walls with the antique brick sets a mood.

GUEST SUITE Yet another unexpected design choice......an adjoining guest suite was designed with vintage barber shop equipment. Complete with two reclining barber chairs for TV viewing, and collections of antique barber tools. This loft is like no other. Those given entry are in for a treat!

2019 VIPSEEN

MEN of

MEASURE

RUSS

ROGERS Honda of Kingsport Managing Partner, Author

“The 17 Laws of Parenting” & “The 17 Laws of Marriage”

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? MAKE IT YOUR PURPOSE TO CREATE A MARRIAGE THAT IS THE MOST SECURE PLACE ON THE PLANET 18

june 2019

Q& A LET’S BEGIN BY INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR READERS...TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO. My name is Russ Rogers and after dating five years, I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart, Tracy, for 30 years. We are blessed with four incredible children ranging from a 14 year old to three married children of which two are in the medical profession and another is headed that way. I get to work alongside 80 amazing people who are some of the smartest and hardest working people I know.

We used to vacation in East Tennessee and about 20 years ago, we were blessed move to Kingsport where we now call home and cannot imagine living anywhere else.

OFTEN, PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO SEE PAST THE TITLE ON OUR BUSINESS CARDS; WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR READERS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU? People would be surprised that I’m an author of a couple of books, ran the Walt Disney World Marathon, a few 1/2 Marathons, and founded a nonprofit missions organization.

What I enjoy the most is helping families however I can, which sometimes means helping them with their job, car, talking through issues, or just being supportive.

I am passionate about families staying together and so much so, that was the catalyst of my last book, “The 17 Laws of Marriage” (Coming out next month).

I am confident that if we had stronger families, stronger marriages, stronger

parenting, that our communities would improve and would improve drastically.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DO TO UNWIND FROM A BUSY DAY? The perfect wind down evening would be running five miles on the Greenbelt right after work and later taking Tracy out on a date while leaving the phone in the car and end the evening in the man cave watching a movie.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY ONE SUPERPOWER, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? I’ve always wanted an Iron Man suit, but I think what I would want the most is when I eat Cheddar Rounds, Pop Tarts, and Cheezits, my body would process them as a grilled chicken salad.

AS A MENTOR TO US ALL, WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO READERS? There is a day in our lives when all of us realize how important our families are. It’s my prayer that we figure that out sooner than later.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE ABOUT BUSINESS OR LIFE THAT YOU EVER RECEIVED? HOW DID FOLLOWING THIS ADVICE HELP AND WHEN DID IT REALLY HIT HOME THAT THE ADVICE WAS SO HELPFUL? I think some of the best advice I ever received was that when we say yes to one thing, we are saying no to something else. If I say yes to more than I can handle during the day, I am saying no to spending time with my family that evening. I used to write if off as lots of hard work, but in reality, I was saying yes to time bandits because I didn’t want to hurt feelings, or miss out on something, but I was actually saying no to our employees or my family who really needed me. When I started living by this, it was a game changer.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOU...

Every day I try to focus on my family, work on my physical health, my spiritual health, and then I try to focus on helping others become more successful at their jobs and their families.

IS THERE A GAP BETWEEN WHAT OTHERS PERCEIVE YOU DO FOR A LIVING VERSES WHAT YOU ACTUALLY DO FOR A LIVING? I’m blessed to make my living as a managing partner of Honda Kingsport. But in reality, I’m on the mission field and I’m in the people business. We happen to be part of a business that helps people with all their automotive needs, but the fact is, we are all on the mission field no matter where we work or live.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CAREER? I love the people I work with, I get to help people with their second largest purchase of their life with arguably the best car on the market (Honda), and get to make a difference by improving marriages and in many cases, help keeping them together.

WE ALL HAVE WEAKNESSES, WHAT IS YOURS? Poptarts, Oreos, Cheezits, Peanut Butter, and M&M’s.

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Qand A:

Doug Bounds

Why I would recommend Dr. Creech to anyone looking for a cosmetic dentist.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING DR. CREECH AS YOUR DENTIST? I have seen Dr. Creech since she acquired the practice over 7 years ago.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT HER PRACTICE? I started going to the practice 30+ years ago when it was Dr. Andy Collins and Dr. Bill Shepherd. Both dentists went to my church (Colonial Heights Baptist Church) and so did Dr. Creech….only, she was a student in the youth group at that time. Remembering her as an intelligent, positive and driven young lady, I was excited she acquired the practice and never thought about going anywhere else!

WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND DR. CREECH TO OTHER PEOPLE? WHAT SETS HER APART FROM OTHER DENTISTS? Dr. Creech has the ideal mix of being a proactive dentist who uses the latest technology to ensure you get the absolute BEST care…and…the interpersonal skills to make you feel that it’s your best friend who is providing that care! She takes the time with you to make sure you have the information to make the best possible decisions about your dental care and she is an absolute perfectionist with your treatment.

HOW DID YOU VIEW YOUR SMILE BEFORE YOUR DENTAL TREATMENT? I have always been self-conscious about my smile. My natural teeth are very small and I was missing one of the top four front teeth. Years ago, in an effort to improve my smile, I had my teeth ‘bonded’ to make them look larger and fill in some of the gaps.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A SMILE MAKE OVER? My bonding had stained and was starting to fail. In addition, my teeth had shifted with age and we were concerned that my bite could ultimately cause fractures in my teeth. I knew something had to be done and I started noticing the Before/After photos in Dr. Creech’s office…they were amazing! After discussing with my wife and getting her encouragement, I decided I would love to have one of those incredible smiles!

WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO RECEIVE THE END RESULT? My treatment plan involved 19 months of orthodontics. Dr. Creech recommended Dr. Cindy Pulitzer and she was outstanding as well.

I also had to have an implant where I was missing my natural tooth and then the aesthetics part involved whitening my bottom teeth and having porcelain veneers put on the top teeth.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE DR. CREECH DURING THE PROCESS? Encouraging, knowledgeable and meticulous! As an example, she spent several hours putting on my temporaries one day and they

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looked great. She called me that evening and asked if I could come in again the next morning because there was a very minor fit issue that she thought could be improved. She came in on her day off and worked with the one temporary until she had it just perfect!

DO YOU LOVE YOUR NEW SMILE? HAVE YOU NOTICED IF YOU SMILE MORE? I do love my new smile and no question I smile more! I look back at photos and notice that I always kept my lips together when I smiled for photos…but no more!

DO YOU ENJOY YOUR DENTAL APPOINTMENTS AT COLONIAL HEIGHTS DENTAL GROUP? I really do! I tell people going to Colonial Heights Dental Group is like going to the “Cheers Bar….Where Everybody Knows Your Name!”. Just last week, I mentioned to Taylor Woods, the Marketing Director for Dr. Creech, that we had just become Grandparents and when I got home from work that afternoon, I had blue helium balloons and a card tied to my mailbox! In all things, the entire staff goes the extra mile!

DO YOU THINK YOUR SMILE IS PRETTIER THAN DR. CREECH'S NOW? Well, I don’t know if my smile is any nicer than Dr. Creech’s but I can give her a run for her money! The thing about Dr. Creech’s smile is it’s not just the white teeth…when she smiles you get a glimpse into what a truly amazing person she is!

Follow-up with Dr. Creech.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT DOUG’S DENTAL TREATMENT? Doug completed orthodontic treatment first in order to move teeth in a more ideal alignment. He received an implant to address a missing tooth.

Then, the dental lab technician and I worked together to design his new smile. After the design was approved by Doug, I prepared the teeth for the porcelain restorations and the final appointment was the day he received his beautiful new smile.

WHAT IN PARTICULAR BEGAN THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN YOU AND DOUG ABOUT COSMETIC DENTISTRY? I began noticing the bonding on his teeth that had been done 20 years prior was failing and his teeth were shifting. These issues prompted me to ask Doug if he had noticed these problems and if he would be interested in learning what could be done to help him restore his mouth back to health.

HOW OR WHEN DOES SOMEONE KNOW THEY NEED A SMILE MAKEOVER? Some patients schedule their appointment already knowing that they would like to discuss cosmetic options to improve their smile. However, the majority of patients notice that their teeth have changed for the worse after years of wear and tear and want to know how to fix it. As we discuss how to repair the damage and prevent future damage from occurring, I explain to the patient that cosmetic dentistry is more than just making teeth look beautiful. Cosmetic dentistry is about having teeth that function properly as well as look amazing. Once they realize this, they usually are ready to get started.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT TREATING PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, COSMETIC CASES LIKE DOUG’S? I enjoy working with the patient to establish a common goal. I enjoy developing a relationship with the patient as we work together to achieve that goal. But what I enjoy the most is seeing the difference in the patient’s “before” and “after” - both in how their smile looks as well as how often they smile.

DR. SUSAN BURKS CREECH

423.239.7471 | colonialheightsdentalgroup.com 4621 FORT HENRY DRIVE | KINGSPORT, TN

BEFORE

AFTER

Abingdon WAYNE AND SHARON MILLER

An Evening with Jane Seymour

HENRY AND FLORA JOY

JANE SEYMOUR

EVENT COVERED BY LINDA COFFEY

With a full house anticipating the event, Barter Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, Richard Rose, came on stage and introduced the multiple Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress, Jane Seymour. As she shared her story, it became apparent that throughout life, she has been guided by her mother’s advice to keep her heart open in order to both give and receive love.

Her heart was open this night as she talked about the different experiences that have combined through the years to bring her to the Barter stage on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. As a young girl, she trained in dance and, although she did not pursue it as a career, her dance training has had an impact on Ms. Seymour’s acting and in helping her to see the beauty in everyday life.

MARY PARRIS AND JACK BARROW

MICHELLE AND SANDRA PENLAND

Jane Seymour has proven her talents in virtually all media: the Broadway stage, motion pictures, and television. Loving beauty, she has also experienced success as a painter and a designer.

Ms. Seymour is also the author of over a dozen books.

After sharing her life experiences with the audience, Ms. Seymour’s son, Johnny Keach, and his bandmate Robin T. Zander, performed original music. For the second part of the program, Richard Rose conducted a discussion with Ms. Seymour, concluding with a question and answer session with the audience.

JAMES AND LAURA ROGERS

TERESA WEST, JUDY ROYSTON, TRESSA TREADWAY, AND LOIS CAMPBELL

Attendees then went across the street to the Martha Washington Inn for a gala. While Johnny and Robin entertained the crowd, Ms. Seymour made a surprise appearance and was kind enough to meet with new friends and pose for photos.

She remarked that this is a beautiful area and that she had thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Southwest Virginia.

Barter’s Fund for Artistic Excellence helps make possible Barter’s artistic quality, its life-changing education programming for young people, its economic impact on our region, and its distinctive legacy as a world-class theatre that serves patrons of all ages and from all walks of life.

Sponsors for the event included The James and Laura Rogers Foundation, Eastman Credit Union, and Empire Ford Lincoln.

DISCUSSION BETWEEN RICHARD ROSE AND JANE SEYMOUR

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Abingdon

SOMETHING FUN FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY

Abingdon

VANESSA AND CHRISTY GUEST

Virginia Creeper Fest EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

On Saturday, April 27th, the Trailhead of the Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon was filled with food, live music, and vendors for the Virginia Creeper Fest. The Creeper Fest is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the outdoors, while highlighting the various outdoor recreation activities available along the Virginia Creeper Trail. This year’s festival included live performances from Elonzo Wesley and Chatham Rabbits. There were also a variety of food, clothing, and craft vendors on hand. The Creeper Fest catered to all ages by offering plenty of kids activities, such as a Pump Track bike demos, an inflatable obstacle course, balloon animals, magic shows, and even a demo pool for kids to try kayaking or paddle boarding.

The Virginia Creeper Fest began as an initiative by the town of Abingdon to get more people outside and enjoying nature. It encourages getting active and taking advantage of the trail whether it is on foot or on bike! The Virginia Creeper Trail stretches through 35 miles from Abingdon to Damascus, Virginia.

Blue Ridge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ribbon Cutting STORY BY LARK ADAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN MAYS PHOTOGRAPHY

On May 14, 2019, Blue Ridge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram held a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new location at 19711 Old Jonesboro Road, in Abingdon, Virginia. The dealership is directly off of Interstate 81 and is expected to add several dozen new jobs to the area. Several notable local politicians and business leaders attended the ceremony, which was hosted by both the Bristol, TN/VA Chamber of Commerce and the Washington County, Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Blue Ridge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram’s brand new location will serve customers from Kingsport to Marion, and the entire team prides themselves on customer service that assures clients they will be treated like family. The business is headed up by brothers Ryan and Wes Mathesius, and has a large team of experienced sales and service staff.

LOREN AND ELIZABETH GARDNER, OWNER OF ABINGDON VINEYARDS LAUREN AND CHANNING WITH MAGGIE AND WINNIE

NATASIA AND DANA

ABINGDON ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER PASSED OUT BANDANAS AND FEATHERS TO DRESS UP THE DOGS

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Abingdon STATE OF FRANKLIN TRACK CLUB

Restore My Sole 5k 2019

ELLEN PRICE, JADE LAUMAN, EMMA BREWSTER, AND BRIAN PLANK

KERSTIN AND REBECCA RHINEHART

EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

Cold temperatures and the drizzling rain couldn’t stop a determined group of runners out for a good cause while racing one of the most scenic trails in Southwestern Virginia.

Restore my Sole 5k raises money for Haven of Rest Ministries, an organization dedicated to helping the transient homeless population in Bristol, Tennessee.

Staff, volunteers, clients of the ministry, and the State of Franklin Track Club all pitched in to help put on this race.

Unlike previous years, this year’s track was angled right off the path of the beautiful Virginia Creeper Trail.

The muddy conditions made the race go slightly slower than those of sunny days, but the racers were back before we knew it; ready for some hot coffee and to see where they placed.

TRACY AND EARL WYATT

SHARON BUMGARDNER AND TERESA DARNELL

Greg Cornforth and Maeve were the first-place winners.

Maeve is one several youth runners taking first in races this season.

For more information on the race or the Haven of Rest please go to their website at www.havenofrestbristol.org MAEVE, 1ST PLACE IN THE FEMALE DIVISION

ANDY KIDD

Haven of Rest Ministries in Bristol, Tennessee are restoring, rebuilding, and transforming lives through the grace of Jesus Christ.

YOUR FRIENDS AT HAVEN OF REST

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GREG CONFORTH, 1ST OVERALL

They were founded in 1955 as a gospel mission.

They serve the transient homeless population in Bristol using eight distinctive ministries to change with the landscape of today’s population.

The organization provides “help to those that want to help themselves” by offering a drug free, safe environment where residents can work to overcome the difficulties that led them to the ministry.

They are located at 624 Anderson Street in Bristol, Tennessee. They are open Monday-Friday from 9am to 4pm. They have a thrift store that is open Monday-Saturday from 10am to 5pm. They can be found on social media or online at www. havenofrestbristol.org.

Abingdon MEADOWVIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATING IN THE 5K IN FULL GEAR KATHERINE AND KATHY ROBERTS

SARA DOUGLAS

EMS Strong 5K EVENT COVERED BY ALLISON GALLOWAY

On Friday, May 3rd, the EMS Strong 5K was held on the beautiful Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon, Virginia. The annual 5K run/walk is held by the Southwest Virginia EMS Council, Inc. Participants were dressed in their red, white, and blue attire but also incorporated flashing lights or glowsticks into their athletic gear. The Meadowview Fire Department showed their support by completing the 3.1 mile route in their full gear.

MIKE HARDING

The mission of the Southwest Virginia EMS Council, Inc. is to evaluate the needs of the EMS community and to provide the services necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality in southwest Virginia arising from emergent illness or traumatic injury through facilitation, coordination, and planning of a comprehensive EMS system. For more information, visit www.southwest.vaems.org or call 888-782-9833.

BAMBI EVANS AND TAMMY OLIVO

PAULA NICHOLS AND CADEN SINGLETON

BACK OF THE PACK ELITE

BRODY

MICHAEL AND AMY OLINGER

KELLY SHARRET AND ADYSEN GULLY

ELAINE DANIELS, PAT DANIELS, AND ASHLEA WISE

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Bristol PATTI NOWAK, ROSE MARIE BURRISS, ELLIOTT MOORE, ARLENE AMBROSE, TINA CAMPER, ETTA RYAN CLARK, DOTTIE HAVLIK, KATHY FEAGINS, NANCY ARNOLD ALLISON LINDER, AND KATHY WAUGH

HEIDI DULEBOHN

KELLI ANDREWS, EMILY MURR, AND WESLEY FLETCHER

KATHY WAUGH AND FATOU (SAYING THE BLESSING)

SARA SAAVEDRA

YWCA Tribute to Women STORY BY ANGELA BAKER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL BURRUS

On April 25th, the annual Tribute to Women Award Ceremony was held at the Bristol Train Station in Bristol, Virginia.

Since 1992, the YWCA Tribute to Women has recognized exceptional women for their positive community impact and dedication to our region. Etta Clark, a recipient in 2010, hosted this year’s ceremony.

Several incredible and deserving women were nominated for this recognition by community corporations, organizations and businesses, and a panel of independent judges was tasked with selecting only nine to be honored in the category reflecting their impact on the region. The categories are Nurture, Transform, and Empower; three are women are selected for each.

CHAIBA BLOOMER

WYNNE TYREE

Tribute progresses the YWCA mission by providing community corporations, organizations and businesses a platform to publicly acknowledge the outstanding achievements of women in the Northeast TennesseeSouthwest Virginia region. Funds from this event help to support the mission of the YWCA including efforts to increase the economic empowerment of women and families, promote women’s health and safety, and to support racial justice and civil rights.

For information about YWCA Tribute to Women, please visit ywcatnva.org NURTURE: Chaiba Bloomer Founder of CKB Consulting Firm Pam Davis Principal of Highland View Elementary School Heidi Dulebohn International Cultural Consultant

YWCA TRIBUTE TO WOMEN AWARD RECIPIENTS: TONYA COLEMAN, WYNNE TYREE, CHAIBA BLOOMER, ANGELA BAKER, APRIL EADS, APRIL EADS, HEIDI DULEBOHN, SARA SAAVEDRA, PAMELA L. DAVIS, AND BECKY HAAS

EMPOWER: Tonya Coleman Speech & Language Pathologist at Bristol Regional Speech and Hearing Center April Eads Business Development Manager, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Wynne Tyree Founder/ President of Smarty Pants

TRANSFORM: Angela Baker Founder/President of VIPSEEN, Inc. Becky Haas Trauma Informed Administrator for Ballad Health Sara Saavedra Special Events Coordinator for Abingdon Tourism Department

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Bristol KRISTA WHARTON AND JILL DAYTON

TOSHA BRADSHAW, TAYLOR WOODS, AND ERIN BRANT

Wine, Women & Shoes

ATLANTA DESIGNER ALEXANDRIA ALLI

EVENT COVERED BY LEXIE LITTLE

The Ballad Health Foundation hosted its fifth annual Wine, Women & Shoes event at the Virginian Golf Club on Saturday, April 27. The event is used to raise money for breast cancer screening programs in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky.

“It’s a great cause,” Dr. Ben Scharfstein, medical director of trauma at Bristol Regional Medical Center, said. “We try to raise some money beforehand, the ‘Shoe Guys’ do...I’m a physician, I’m a general surgeon, so my practice is in Bristol. I do a lot of breast cancer surgeries. I love taking care of patients.”

The event, featuring wine tastings, live and silent auctions, designer shopping, a fashion show, and “Best in Shoe” awards, raises money to provide wider services relating to 3D mammograms, breast MRI tests, and genetic analyses and panels.

While Dr. Scharfstein and others took care of attendees, judges roamed the rooms to pick the “Best in Shoe” awards for “Sassy Stiletto, Wonderful Wedge, Fabulous Flat, and Bodacious Booties.”Despite the competition for items and awards, the main winners remain the women who benefit from the healthcare funds.

“This is an amazing event that helps so many women in our region,” featured speaker Stephanie Brown, a cancer survivor diagnosed at age 31, said in a press release. “Getting a mammogram is extremely important, and I’m so thankful for Wine, Women & Shoes and the support they provide to women in need.”

Attendees perused booths around the club, participating in contests and drawings for designer bags, sunglasses from Velvet Eyewear, a trip to Napa Valley, California, and well-known wine labels. Volunteers from Ballad Health and sponsor partners, including the “charming Shoe Guys” dressed in matching black and white tees, helped to showcase items and serve wine.

Breast cancer survivors, their “Sole Sisters,” and local medical professionals took the stage in a fashion show to celebrate strides toward a cure as they strutted the catwalk. Last year, more than 700 women received mammograms thanks to funds raised that ended up totaling more than $159,000.

Attendees, vendors, and sponsors hope the event will continue to provide care to women in need to combat the most common cancer in women across all races and ethnicities.

“It’s such a great thing,” attendee Debbie Osborne said. “It’s nice to be a part of. I love it.”

BRENDA BORSCH, MARGARET FOLEY, AND DANIELLE BECKNER

BRENDA JOHNSON AND CARMELLA PRICE CHAIBA BLOOMER, BARBARA HAUN, AND TOSHA BRADSHAW

NOLA ISOLANI AND MIRANDA MINGLE MARIA MUSGRAVE, TAMARA MUSGRAVE, KELLEY MAYDEN, JENNIFER COX, AND TIFFANY RATCLIFF

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Bristol TARA BURNS AND LEAH AUSTIN

ANGELA WACKOWSKI AND LORI SAULTS

KELLI ANDREWS, EMILY MURR, AND WESLEY FLETCHER

DEBBIE OSBORNE AND SALLIE DAVIS

DR. BEN SCHARFSTEIN

MAKAILA CARLISLE

CLAUDETTE VANCE AND SARA ODON

LYDIA NOVRUZOV AND ASHLEY JENKINS

Bristol

Luttrell Staffing Ribbon Cutting EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

Members of Bristol Chamber of Commerce and employees of Luttrell Staffing Group gathered with the community to cut the ribbon on a familiar facility with a great mission.

Luttrell Staffing Group has occupied the space on Volunteer Parkway for a while at @work staffing.

They recently branched out on their own with the more 37 locations that the brothers own across the country.

MARTY LUTTRELL, BETH RHINEHART, AND DAVID LUTTRELL

KIM SPROLES AND ROB CHILDRESS

The owners, brothers Marty and David Luttrell have been in the business since 1993 and wanted to continue their mission of “making people matter most”.

The rebranding ribbon cutting was held at their location on Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, Tennessee on May 21, 2019.

The event was coordinated by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and was attended by several business and government leaders.

LUTTRELL STAFFING EMPLOYEES

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Bristol

JORDANA, MATTHEW, ELENA, AND NATHAN

ALISON AND MATT BUNDY

JIM AND GINNY VERSTEGEN

Plein Air Festival Artist Reception EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

A rainy week might have concerned the board of the annual Plein Air Festival in Abingdon, Virginia but it didn’t seem that was the case when they held a welcome reception with some of the featured artists.

The reception was held at Taste, a new venue at Nicewonder Farms and Vineyard. The eatery has yet to have an “official” grand opening but is a favorite “stop-in” place for those living in and around the vineyard area.

Travis Milton and his crew brought a variety of great food to the table, including some partnerships like pickles and pizza, that surprised guests and amazed the taste buds.

The event gave guests a chance to get an early look at the Plein Air artists and see some of their works up close. The festival concentrates on putting artists outside to paint, letting them draw inspiration from the fresh air.

Plein Air is done with cooperation from the William King Museum and proceeds from this event go to help sponsor the Virginia Highlands Festival held annually in Abingdon.

NATHAN AND CHRISTINE BERG WITH ASLEY AND DREW HEMBREE

SHAWNA AND DANA

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ELENA HURLEY, ALLISON HAMILTON, AND STEVEN WHITE

PLEIN AIR COMMITTEE

BETH BATHE AND JOLI AYN WOOD

JOLI AYN WOOD

Johnson City STACEY MCKENZIE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE WUJ MEDICAL ALLIANCE, AND TERRY GERACI, PAST PRESIDENT

AMONG THE 2019-20 LEADERS OF THE WASHINGTON-UNICOI-JOHNSON COUNTY MEDICAL ALLIANCE ARE (LEFT TO RIGHT) NORA LEE, PARLIAMENTARIAN; CYNDI BAILEY, PRESIDENT-ELECT; MELODY COUNTS, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY; TERRY GERACI, PAST PRESIDENT; STACEY MCKENZIE, PRESIDENT; HAYDEN PARR, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR; MYRA GERLOCK, CARING CHAIR; RAE GROSSERODE, TREASURER; AND ALLISON BATTLE, ASSISTANT TREASURER.

WUJ Medical Alliance The Washington-Unicoi-Johnson (WUJ) County Medical Alliance recently installed its 2019-2020 officers during a special luncheon and silent auction at the Blackthorn Club in Jonesborough on May 2.

The new Medical Alliance president is Dr. Stacey McKenzie, a physician who cares for local patients with infectious diseases, including hepatitis. McKenzie is currently working part-time at four facilities: the Downtown Day Center and the Washington County Health Department in Johnson City as well as Providence Medical Clinic and Friends in Need Clinic in Kingsport.

McKenzie, who is board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases, earned her doctor of medicine from Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville in 1985. She also completed her internal medicine residency at Vanderbilt as well as a fellowship in infectious diseases. She was on the faculty at Vanderbilt University, the University of Cincinnati, and Medical University of South Carolina before entering private practice in 2002.

McKenzie returned to the area five years ago from Kentucky, where she was part of Lexington Infectious Diseases Consultants. She grew up in Kingsport and attended Lynn View High School, now part of Sullivan North. Her husband, Dr. Robert Means, is a hematologist; they have three adult children.

SUBMITTED BY NANCY WILLIAMS

Spanish, distributed to healthcare settings, city/county schools, law enforcement agencies, first responders, and area churches. The purpose of the Alliance’s opioid initiative has been to raise awareness in the community where those who are served may be at risk or know someone who is at risk or already struggling with addiction.

The Alliance also offered safety lock boxes for prescription drugs to the community, and the organization financially supported “Take Back the Night,” an event to raise awareness for sexual abuse prevention.

Past presidents of the local Alliance were also honored at the May luncheon. The auction and decorations featured a train-ride theme, in celebration with the Johnson City Sesquicentennial this year.

The WUJ Medical Alliance supports the local chapter of the American Medical Association, provides volunteer services and funding for community health-related organizations, and promotes healthy lifestyles in the tri-county area.

The Medical Alliance slate of officers for next year also includes Cyndi Bailey, president-elect; Rae Grosserode, treasurer; Allison Battle, assistant treasurer; Peggy McQueen, recording secretary; Melody Counts, corresponding secretary; Nora Lee, parliamentarian; and Terry Geraci, past president.

Local Alliance members serving with the statewide Tennessee Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) in the coming year are Beth Peterson, past president and chairman of the philanthropic committee, and Cathy Chang, vice president of legislation.

In 2018-19, under the leadership of Terry Geraci, the WUJ Alliance supported local opioid abuse awareness efforts by providing written materials in English and

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE MEDICAL ALLIANCE HONORED AT THE LUNCHEON WERE (SEATED, LEFT TO RIGHT) NORA LEE, DOTTIE GIBSON, ERMA BUDD, BETH PETERSON, (STANDING, LEFT TO RIGHT) TERRY GERACI, MELODY COUNTS, HAYDEN PARR, KATRENA FLOYD, RAE GROSSERODE, JULIA GARDNER, AND MADELINE BECKER.

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Johnson City

BRAD AND RACHEL ERWIN, ETSU ATHLETICS

EMILY ASSENMACHER AND SARA GIVENS

Down & Derby with the Bucs EVENT COVERED BY HALEY WHITE

The East Tennessee State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held its annual Excellence Fund Auction Saturday, April 27 inside the Grand Ballroom of the Millennium Center. This year’s theme was a Kentucky Derby Party. Guests were encouraged to sport their best and biggest hats and grab a classic mint julep from the open bar! Over 100 items were available for bid in the silent auction. Entertainment was provided by Spank! The Ultimate 80s Party Band. All the proceeds went to the ETSU Excellence Fund to support the Buccaneer student-athlete experience.

To learn more on how you can support ETSU athletics, visit GiveBucs.com

ELIZABETH BALLUFF AND JENNIFER FILLINGER

CAC STAFF

SUSAN AND MIKE KEIRNAN

DELANEY WALSH AND ADAM MULLINS

DR. ERIC AND TREVA SELLERS

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DR. AND MRS. GAYLE COX

TONYA SOMMERS AND JENNIFER JENKINS

DOTTIE STUMP AND COACH BRITTNEY EZELL

COOKIE MABE AND BECKY QUILLEN

BRYAN FORBES, BUCKY AND MICHAEL REUTT

MORGAN KING AND ASHLEY GRINDSTAFF

DR. AND MRS. FORBUSH

SESQUICENTENNIAL ORGANIZERS

JENNIFER KELLEY, BECKY ALLSOP AND CINDY SCHADE

BRIAN NOLAN, DONNA NOLAN, AND CALVIN CLAGGETT

MAYORS “HENRY JOHNSON” AND JENNY BROCK AMANDA ANDDRAMA CAROL MASONER INDIAN TRAIL CLASS

Henry Johnson Birthday Bash

Johnson City

CAROLYN AND AARON HEATON

EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

Crowds gathered to bridge the gap between the past and the present as Johnson City celebrated the birth of its founder Henry Johnson. The event was held in King Commons in Johnson City on April 27, 2019.

Jonesborough Senior Center had a dance group clad in period costuming and they danced away the day with steps from old. Don’t forget the old-fashioned cake walks that happened periodically as the “Cat and Fiddle” band played away.

Train rides would take you around the tour of King Commons where, on the far side of the park, books on Johnson City history, local prints of the “Lady of the Fountain”, and birthday cake could be found. Costumes for the event were provided by Celebrate.

Across the park, children from Indian Trail Middle School, along with their drama teacher Becky Edmisten,

donned some great costumes and walked around King Commons in order to offer a realistic air of yesteryear and to celebrate the birthday.

ALPHA DELTA PI

Face painting was done by local sorority Alpha Delta Pi. Games like croquet and horseshoes as well as more current things like bubbles were available for play.

A great moment of present meets past was when Johnson City’s first mayor Henry Johnson was applauded by the current mayor Jenny Brock. Brock then had the group sing happy birthday to the founder of the city.

The event is part of a year-long series of events to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of Johnson City.

You can find out more about events and how to contact the committee at www.jctn150.com.

ADRIA, BEAR, AND JENNIFER

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Johnson City KELLER WILLIAMS VOLUNTEERS MADE CALLS, ANSWERED PHONES, AND ACCEPTED DONATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL

VOLUNTEERS

Keller Williams Red Day EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

Each year Keller Williams agents nationwide participate in a full day of service dedicated to improving the community. This year on May 9th the agents of Keller Williams in Johnson City spent their day volunteering at Jeremiah School, a faith-based private school for middle to high school students with mild to moderate neuro-developmental delays in relating and communicating involving autism spectrum disorders. All the volunteers worked on various projects around the school to update it and make it better suited to fit the needs of its students. Projects included painting walls, adding sensory-friendly light coverings, re-doing the outdoor picnic area, and adding cubbies for the students. In addition to this, the two biggest projects for the day included creating a new office space for Jeremiah School Principal, Jo Cullen, as well as building a “sensory room” with a range of therapeutic equipment designed specifically for the students.

SOME OF THE MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT SPENT THEIR DAY WORKING HARD AT JEREMIAH SCHOOL!

Jeremiah School is located inside the Coalition for Kids building in Johnson City. This school relies primarily on donations and community support. Keller Williams has played a huge part in donating supplies and equipment that the school desperately needed and accomplished so many beneficial projects during Red Day. To learn more about Jeremiah School or how you can support them visit www.jeremiahschool.com or call (423) 915-9257.

RACHEL SMITH WITH ROBIN SMITH AND DONNA LAMPKINS WHO HELPED TO SPEARHEAD THE PROJECT

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ONE OF THE MAIN PROJECTS OF THE DAY WAS THIS SENSORY ROOM FOR THE STUDENTS

JO CULLEN, PRINCIPAL OF JEREMIAH SCHOOL

MATTHEW TAYLOR SHOWS OFF THE BENCH HE HELPED PAINT IN THE NEW OUTDOOR AREA

Johnson City

JEFF RAINEY, GRASSY RIDGE COFFEE COMPANY

SMART PACKAGING

Pitches & Pints 2019 EVENT COVERED BY HALEY WHITE

Entrepreneurs and small business supporters came out Thursday, May 9 for what some call The Shark Tank of Northeast Tennessee. Pitches and Pints gave new entrepreneurs a platform to launch their business ideas and products to the community, craft beer included. Participants had just five minutes to pitch their ideas to a panel of experienced judges for a chance to win cash prizes.

This event was all about positive support, networking, and growth for new business and the local community. This event was organized

by Startup Tri-Cities.

JUDGES

JEFF RAINEY, WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S EVENT

Startup Tri-Cities is an organization of entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Our focus is to help cultivate new startups by connecting aspiring and existing startups to all of the amazing resources in our region. Then we help startups tell their story to our local community through public events, meetups, and through our media partners.

It is time to stand up, stand out, and start something new together with Startup Tri-Cities!

To learn more visit startuptri.com vipseenmag.com

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Johnson City

CRIMINAL JUDGE STACY L. STREET AND FAMILY MEMBERS

CLAY HIXSON AND RANDY ALMANZOR

RENA SCHARFSTEIN AND LINDSAY NICKELS

Croquet for a Cause EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

Croquet for a Cause is a new fundraising event for the Children’s Advocacy Center of the 1st Judicial District that was held for the first time April 28th at the TVA Credit Union Ballpark in Johnson City. Modern Woodman, Boone’s Creek Liquor and Wine, and Ballad Health all helped to sponsor Croquet for a Cause; a fun event that included drinks and food with each ticket. This event allowed guests to have fun and try their hand at croquet while they support and raise awareness for the Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of the 1st Judicial District is dedicated to supporting children in severe abuse cases. The CAC provides a safe place for these children to seek help and refuge. They offer counseling and medical exams to children from abusive households.

The CAC believes that “every child should be safe in his or her own castle” and aims to provide a caring environment for each child to seek help in. For more information on the Children’s Advocacy Center of the 1st Judicial District or how you can help, please visit www.cac1st.org or call (423) 926-7528.

DR. DEBRA MILLS WITH ETSU PEDS KELLY HIXSON WITH JOHN AND BETHANY TELHEIT

MORGAN THALDORF, SETH DAVIS, AND ALLISON TURBYFIELD

GRANT AND RAB SUMMERS

PAULA HOLLOWAY, CAREY LEWIS, SAMANTHA PRATER, CAROLINE SHAFER

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LEMY DAO

Johnson City

AMANDA AND CAROL MASONER

TINA AND KEVIN

Bag-A-Bargain

TORI REEVES

EVENT COVERED BY ALLISON GALLOWAY

The Junior League of Johnson City brought back a popular event in the region for their 2019 spring fundraiser. Bag-A-Bargain took place on Saturday, May 4th at Fairmont Elementary School in Johnson City.

Gently used clothing, accessories, home goods, books, toys, and more were for sale during the event. This year marked the fundraiser’s return – it was previously held every year, and at its height was held at Freedom Hall Civic Center. People in the region recognized the name, remembered the great deals and items available at this large garage sale, and the event had a great turn out.

VOLUNTEERS WITH JUNIOR LEAGUE: ELIZABETH MAJORS, BRITTANY BUTLER, TARA FINDLAY, CASEY CARRINGER, KELSEY FRAZIER, KRISTYN GRAHAM, HAOWEI CLAIRE TONG ALYSSA WILLIAMS, JAMIE FINK, AND WANDA ROWLAND

Proceeds benefitted the mission of The Junior League of Johnson City and assisted in funding initiatives to benefit the youth in our community. A portion of the funds generated from Bag-A-Bargain went towards supporting the remodeling and updating of Frontier Health’s Adventure Program.

The Junior League of Johnson City is a non-profit organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.For more information, please visit www.juniorleagueofjc.com or call (423) 375-9174.

Johnson City

One Acre Café Silent Auction EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

The One Acre Café in Johnson City is a “Community Restaurant for Everyone”. They provide warm, nourishing meals to everyone that walks through their doors, whether they can pay for it or not.

Because of their “Pay it Forward” system, this restaurant relies heavily on fundraising and donations to keep their doors open and to continue to provide to the community.

On May 2nd the One Acre Café held a silent auction with delicious finger foods and desserts available as well as live music for everyone to enjoy. This silent auction allowed for the community to gather together and enjoy each other’s company while supporting a great cause. Regular customers and new visitors of the café came out to learn more about the One Acre Café’s mission and how they can help.

ERIN MAUCK AND ASHLEY CAVENDER

ETSU’S CELTIC BAND ROARING JELLY

The One Acre Café staff is made up completely of volunteers who dedicate their time to providing meals to their community. As a completely community funded restaurant, this café offers donation options as payment or allows the guest to pay for their meal through an hour of volunteering their time. To learn more about ways you can donate or volunteer visit oneacrecafe.org or visit in person between 11am and 2pm Monday through Friday at 603 W. Walnut Street, Johnson City, TN.

ROGER BLACKWELL, CHRIS DUMAS, AND ANTHONY PELUSO

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Johnson City

THE WORD NERDS

THE “PUNKTUATORS”

Johnson City Schools Foundation Spell-A-Bration EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

There are no elementary students with sweaty palms hoping to spell the word correctly. Instead it was great costumes, fun team names, and a whole lot of adults hoping they can all remember…and agree on how to spell a word.

This was the scene at the 2nd Annual Spell-A-Bration held April 11, 2019 at the Science Hill High School Gymnasium. Teams paid an entry fee of $200 for a team of four. They were given words and their definitions that had to be put onto a white board for judging.

Be careful if you don’t spell the word correctly because worker bees were busy stinging any team’s balloons if they got an incorrect answer. Once the balloons were gone, the team was out of the competition.

Master of Ceremonies was WJHL news anchor Josh Smith, who was on his second emcee hosting duty of the day.

While winning for the teams was about bragging rights, the real winners of the night were the students of Science Hill High School. The money raised from this event will goes toward the creation of an “Innovation Station” at the library that will feature a television studio, audio/video equipment, and other technology designed to help teach students in a technological world.

The event was sponsored by the Mall at Johnson City, Chick-fil-A, and Bank of Tennessee. Last year’s event raised over $11,000 dollars that went to build the STEAM bus that travels to area elementary schools to teach STEM activities.

THE WORKER BEES

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HIGHWAY TO SPELL

The Johnson City Schools Foundation is an independent, community-based foundation that was chartered in 1989 to fund innovative programs in Johnson City Schools that could not be provided by the school systems budget. It is a non-profit that hopes to enhance learning for both students and teachers within the school system. It provides funding for teacher grants, student scholarships and special educational projects.

The foundation can be contacted by email at foundation@jcschools.org. Their current president is Ms. Amy Stover, former Principal at Southside Elementary School.

W

ith a record number of seniors being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, VIPSEEN felt compelled to help create awareness about the disease. In the next pages, we have partenered with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide facts, stories, and things to look for when trying to understand this disease which affects 5.8 million Americans today.

TITLE SPONSOR

Thank you to our title sponsor and one of the areas largest supporters of Alzheimer’s Association, Eastman Credit Union. VIPSEEN would also like to thank our supporting sponsors for making this section possible.

To contact your local Alzheimer’s Association office, please visit alz.org or call (423) 928-4080.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

IN APPRECIATION

Blair Cahoon

TABLE OF CONTENTS 42

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

43

10 Ways to Love your Brain

44

The Road through Dementia.

State by State. Day by Day.

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Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease vipseenmag.com

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TITLE SPONSOR

What is

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE? A

lzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging — it is a progressive brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.

Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.

Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, new treatments are on the horizon as a result of accelerating insight into the biology of the disease.

RISK FACTORS Experts believe that Alzheimer’s develops as a complex result of multiple factors rather than any one overriding cause. The only exception to this is inheriting one of three rare genes that directly cause the disease. These genes account for about 1 percent of all cases. The other 99 percent of Alzheimer’s cases are believed to be caused by a wide range of risk factors. These include, but are not limited to, advanced age, family history of Alzheimer’s and lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and smoking.

SYMPTOMS The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory or age related changes.

People with Alzheimer’s disease experience memory loss as well as difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning. These are problems severe enough to impact an individual’s work, social activities and family life.

As the disease progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspicion or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.

To help identify problems early, the Alzheimer’s Association has created a list of 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease (alz.org/10signs). Different individuals may experience one or more of these signs to different degrees. If you notice any of them, consult a doctor.

DIAGNOSIS A physician should be consulted about concerns with memory, thinking skills and changes in behavior so the cause can be determined. This is especially important because some dementia-like symptoms can be reversed if they are caused by treatable conditions, such as depression, drug interactions,

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CURRENT ALZHEIMER’S STATISTICS

• More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease.

• Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

• Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.

• One-third of people age 85 or older have Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

• Approximately 200,000 Americans under age 65 have Alzheimer’s disease.

thyroid problems, excess use of alcohol or certain vitamin deficiencies.

An early diagnosis allows individuals with dementia to take advantage of available treatments as soon as possible. It also allows time to plan for the future, including putting legal, financial and care plans in place, enroll in clinical studies and maximize quality of life.

There is no single diagnostic test that can determine if a person has Alzheimer’s disease. However, diagnostic tools and criteria make it possible for physicians to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s with an accuracy of about 90 percent. The diagnostic process may involve a thorough medical history, mental status and mood testing, a physical and neurological exam, and tests (such as blood tests and brain imaging) to rule out other causes of dementia-like symptoms. This process may take more than one day or visit.

TITLE SPONSOR

The Road through Dementia

State by State. Day by Day.

WRITTEN BY SERINA MARSHALL AND FAMILY

Y

ou always hear how your life can change in an instant. That the world you know now won’t be the same in a year. But you never realize the truth behind that until you are blindsided on a random Tuesday at 1:37pm. At this part in our story, I was living in two states; the state of Florida and the state of denial.

Little did I realize I would also soon be living in the states of despair and perplexity. For the first time, I was going down the road through dementia, state by state and piece by piece.

My father was always a strong man. A veteran in the United States Army; he was very organized, dependable and always on the go. From vacations to the beach to attending nearly every sporting event us kids were into, daddy was everywhere we were. I suppose that was something we took for granted over the years. His there-ness. Whether it be physically or mentally, that is something that the disease of dementia has stolen from our father and our family. Leading up to this, daddy’s memory had slowly been on the decline. He would forget birthdays, repeat things in conversation more than once, and even call me back to back to back forgetting we had just spoken. He then began calling me and asking me where everyone was or telling me that he hadn’t seen anyone in the family for weeks, which wasn’t true as my sister and brother took turns going over every day along with the rest of my family, to see him during the week. He would tell me of things that never happened and would make no sense when we spoke. Fast forward to December 2017 when I received a call on my phone that

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showed up “Daddy”, but when I answered, it was a police officer on the phone telling me that daddy had wandered out of the house to a neighbor’s telling them that his house had been broken into the previous day and to call the police. Of course, that wasn’t true, but the neighbors called anyway knowing daddy was not in his right mind. When the police showed up, daddy was wearing two different colored shoes, a neck tie with his pajamas and was very disoriented. He couldn’t recall going to the neighbors nor what had happened. We had discussed daddy moving in with my sister before, but this time my sister took him from the house the night of the incident and he has been living with her ever since.

I had always known both of my parents as caregivers. As a child, you never expect to have to take care of your parent.

They are the ones that are supposed to live forever and take care of you. So, when the roles are reversed, you have this feeling of fear and obligation both and it is hard to explain.

They have taken care of you your whole life. From helping feed you, walking you to the bathroom, cleaning you up and putting you to bed. Now, you find yourself in what seems an alternate universe doing the same for them. It is hard to watch someone

“

EVERY SPARK OF REMEMBRANCE, EVERY WITTY REMARK, EVERY REMINDER OF THE PERSON WHOM WE HAVE KNOWN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS BEFORE ARE REGARDED NOW AS PRICELESS MOMENTS AND APPRECIATED WITH INCREASED INTENSITY.

“

you love and admire, who has always been healthy, slowly start to slip into a state of helplessness. You struggle between being in denial and acceptance, yet never fully committing to either. We lost our mother in 2005. It hurt when mama passed away, it hurt so much.

We will never get over it. However, with her, we lost her all at once, and with daddy, it seemed at first, we were losing him piece by piece.

I don’t know which is harder, neither are easy. I hate both reasons.

The best way I can describe taking care of a dementia patient is being in a relationship that you know will end and there is nothing you can do to stop it. You spend every day with this person, loving them and taking care of them. You have a past with them, but they are slowly forgetting why they are with you and wanting to move on. You know the break up is coming and that one day, they will not remember you and you will have to pass them on the street as a stranger, but knowing they were so much more to you. And it is the hardest thing to realize, that no matter what you do, you can’t make them stay. So, you find yourself taking more pictures than usual and recording every good moment so you too won’t forget. You hang on to every little thing knowing that one day, when they are gone, they will be the big things. It’s scary. I am terrified. But he is still here. I can’t anticipate the worst because I will miss the best. If I focus on what will happen, I will not experience what is happening now. It is a game of tug of war and I don’t know if I am strong enough to win at times. I just keep pulling, pushing through the pain of the rope burn as the rope occasionally slides faster than I expect and I have to hold on for dear life. But we are thankful he is still here. Regardless of what name he calls us or what state he thinks we live in we can still talk to him and hug him and tell him we love him.

However, on our own personal journey, we have been provided a reprieve. Through the blessing of a combination of medications which has permitted, somewhat, a return of some cognitive ability and the outreach of the Alzheimer’s Association, community and the love and infinite support of our family, we have been fortunate to have our experience eased. While this may only be a temporary band-aid on a wound that ultimately will not heal, we have acquired a renewed appreciation for the so-called ordinary events in every day life. Every spark of remembrance, every witty remark, every reminder of the person whom we have known just a few short years before are regarded now as priceless moments and appreciated with increased intensity. To our treasure house of memories, we will always have the tunes of, “Y’all come!” and “The Man on the Flying Trapeze” either of which he spontaneously may begin whistling or singing at any given random moment. Unexpectedly, he may make us laugh and laugh with us as he did once on a shopping trip when he looked at the sign for the business Five Below and quipped “I didn’t realize it was that cold outside!” or in church when the pastor was talking about ewes and daddy says out loud, “Got any T’s to add to that?” Every day he brings so much laughter, life and love into our hearts and our home. And every day, we are so very grateful that we were chosen to be his.

Our lives are better because of James Marshall, and we hope and pray the story our family has been given to write will one day help others in our same position. The season is hard, but the memories are worth it all. vipseenmag.com

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TITLE SPONSOR

Ten warning signs of

10 Warning Signs of ALZHEIMER’S Alzheimer’s disease

DISEASE

1

Memory loss that disrupts daily life

2

Challenges in planning or solving problems

3

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

4

Confusion with time or place

5

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

6

New problems with words in speaking or writing

7

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

8

Decreased or poor judgment

9

Withdrawal from work or social activities

10

Changes in mood and personality

If you or anyone you know experiences any of If you these or anyone you know experiences any of these signs,For please see a doctor. warning signs, please seewarning a doctor. more For more information, call 800.272.3900 or visitalz.org/10signs alz.org/10signs. information, call 800.272.3900 or visit

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JESSI FUCHS

Corazon Latino Festival

CALLIE LONGO AND LISA KREKELBERG

Johnson City

NATALIE ELLIS, PAULINE RIOS, AND TAYLOR LAPINSKI

EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

Johnson City hosted the 10th Annual Corazon Latino Festival at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion in Johnson City on Friday, April 12, 2019.

Community members gathered to listen to music, look at what local resources were available for the community, and to celebrate and learn about Latin culture across the world.

Some were there to celebrate the cultures that are a part of their heritage, while others were there to learn about these cultures. Several displays around the festival featured a country and described its beauty, the people, and the way of life there.

SOL AND EMILIA

If you were looking for resources there were several organizations from a look at health, culture, and literacy.

The Johnson City Public Library had several initiatives like their conversational Spanish classes, Spanish COORDINATOR RANA ZAKARIA AND DR. FELIPE FIUZA reading library, and their summer reading program.

The event coordinator for this year’s festival, Rana Zakaria says the event is seeing more growth every year. “The goal is each year to have a bigger turnout. We saw that this year. This is a good place to have an event like this because this community has an interest in learning about diversity and culture.”

The event also featured a variety of Latina music, the “running of the bulls” featuring the Little City Roller Derby team as the bulls, games and face-painting, and a variety of food trucks.

THE RUSINOL FAMILY

The event is planned and organized by students at ETSU, Rana Zakaria, and Dr. Felipe Fiuza of the Language and Culture Resource Center.

CARLY AND WILL

REKHA ILLURI AND LUZ SERRANO

KATRINA, DAVID, REBEKKA, AND ISABEL MERRYFIELD

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Johnson City

ASHLEY DAVIS AND SYLVIA BOESCH

CAITLIN, IVIS, AND BETHANY EARLEY

5k Buddy Run

SARAH, ALLISON, AND KATHRYN

EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

Friends of Down Syndrome hosted their annual 5k Buddy Run on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The campus of ETSU was buzzing that morning, as several events were going on that day, but you could find the most eager runners at the heart of campus.

The event has three tiers, the fun run, for those special runners that are too small or unable to do the entire 5k run, the run itself, and a 5k walk for those that wanted to take part but didn’t want to run the course.

Two local favorites in the local race scene came out to run. Team Wandell from Elizabethton, and Team Justin from Crumley House had their Ansley’s Angels racing

chairs and a great group of runners there to support them.

THERESA, GABRIEL, AND TARA

The race proceeds will go to support the many programs and events that the organization offers to its members including the yearly barn dance and the mom’s/dad’s night out among others.

For those that wanted to come out and walk, but couldn’t get to this event, the FRIENDS have an annual buddy walk coming in the fall.

ELIZA FOXX, BECCA FOXX, JESSICA DORTON

For more information on donating or participating with FRIENDS of Down Syndrome, find them online at dsfriends.net.

PRESNELL FAMILY

DEVAN BEER, ZAYLEI ADAMS FRIENDS PRESIDENT MISTY ADAMS AND VICE PRESIDENT REBECCA KOUVAS

AINSLEY’S ANGELS TEAM JUSTIN

FRIENDS is a group designed to promote community understanding and acceptance of individuals with Down Syndrome. They offer families and caregivers multiple ways to connect with other families in the area.

Dedicated volunteers and their board organize workshops, events, fundraisers, and socials to provide all aged individuals with down syndrome and their families an accepting place.

The vision of FRIENDS is to enhance the quality of life for people with down syndrome by promoting support.

The group president is Misty Adams and individuals can contact the group for assistance or to volunteer at admin@dsfriends.net or visit them on their social media pages.

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WILJELM FAMILY

BRILEY

EVENT SUBMITTED

Selected above many outstanding youth, Kyela Stephens has been named the Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City / Washington County. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle.

KYELA STEPHENS Now in its 72nd year, the program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures, and encourages all kids to lead, succeed, and inspire. Kyela represented Johnson City for the Tennessee Youth of the Year title and competed recently in Nashville for college scholarships.

Sarah Nave, Program Director for Academic Success chaperoned Kyela to Nashville and states: “Kyela, who is typically a very reserved and quiet young woman, showed her leadership throughout the three day trip. Kyela also had the opportunity to meet with several state legislators and conducted herself in a professional manner beyond her years.”

Robin Crumley, President & CEO accompanied Kyela also and states “Kyela has been a member of the club since 2014. She is one of the most respectful and mature youth at the club. During competition Kyela delivered a speech about her club experience, her personal brand and her vision for America’s Youth. Kyela went on to win an $800 scholarship at the state competition. We are so very proud of Kyela and her accomplishments.

The Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by The Walt Disney Company, which has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota is the Signature Sponsor of the National Youth of the Year program.

For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org.

The Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City / Washington County exists “to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” For more information on the Club or to receive information regarding membership, volunteer or sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gokidz.org or call 423.461.4560.

Johnson City

Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year

Johnson City

AMY LOWE AND JO CULLEN

ST. PAUL’S DAY SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN

CASEY EWING AND KRISTA SULLINS

Tri-Cities Autism Conference EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

The Autism Society of East Tennessee held its annual Autism Educational Conference on April 27, 2019 at Northeast State Community College Blountville Campus.

The conference found parents, educators, professionals that work with children, and others to learn about the latest information of all aspects of living with autism in Tennessee.This year’s conference was hosted by Laurel Heights Hospital, a place offering treatment programs with those on the autism spectrum.

HOPE TREE FAMILY SERVICES

Keynote speaker for the event is Sonya Rice, who has worked for Laurel Heights since 2014. She is an advocate for mental health services and resource development for those services.

The need for more services was a common theme of the conference, with many of the people there touting the need in Tennessee for more funding for those on the spectrum to receive more occupational, speech, hearing, and physical therapy.

MELISSA COLE, GINGER CANTY, AND HOPE FINLEY

Tennessee offers less paid therapy time than most other states, a move that leads groups like Autism Society of East Tennessee working to advocate for more funding for therapy.

The CDC estimates that 1 in 49 children will be diagnosed on the autism spectrum in any given year. This is a greater number than those diagnosed with diabetes, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, or down syndrome combined.

For those that are interested but missed this conference, one will be hosted in Knoxville in fall 2019.

AUTISM SOCIETY OF EAST TENNESSEE

The Autism Society of East Tennessee is a community-based organization that improves the lives of all persons impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

It envisions a community that both supports and shows compassion to those affected by autism by providing accessibility through collaboration education and support services.

The society believes that all individuals with autism have the right to access appropriate services and supports based on their needs and desires, since everyone with autism is unique and has their own set of challenges that can’t be fit into a cookie-cutter program

MOLLY HAGEMEIR AND HELEN BERRY

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JENNI AND ALISE

For more information about the Autism Society of East Tennessee, advocating for the rights of those diagnosed, or how to volunteer, they can be contacted at www.asaetc.org.

Johnson City LADIES OF ALL AGES DRESSED UP AND ENJOYED THE NIGHT

SECRETARY MANDY MAYE

Purses and Pearls EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

What better way to celebrate Audrey Hepburn’s birthday than with a fundraiser full of sparkly heels and Tiffany blue? On May 4th the Seasons of Hope charity organization held Ladies Night Out: Purses and Pearls at Rose Hill Weddings in Johnson City. This Breakfast at Tiffany’s themed night included a silent auction of purses filled with a pound or more of surprise goodies and giveaways inside! Ladies arrived all dressed up in heels and pearls and enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing, and fun. Kalen Arnold, owner of Lady Fit Studio, was the featured speaker for the evening and shared her empowering story of self-love and self-confidence.

ANGELA SHELTON OF CHANGES MEDICAL SPA, WITH KATIE KEEN

This evening’s events supported Angela’s Dignity Closet, which is an organization dedicated to providing feminine hygiene products to girls and women of lower income. Angela’s Dignity Closet aims to deliver “period packs” full of tampons, pads, and other necessities to every school in the Tri-Cities so that no woman will have to go without items that affect your dignity. To participate or find out how you can help email Seasons of Hope at seasonsofhopetn@gmail.com.

KALEN ARNOLD, SPEAKER FOR THE NIGHT

SHERI BOUNDS AND JANICE JACKSON

MICHELLE HOPSON AND KATHY STEVENS

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TIME!

JOAN BUCHANAN, DEBORAH BUCHANAN, AND KIM MATHESONN

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Johnson City

100+ Tri-Cities Women Who Care

2nd Big Give Event STORY BY BECCA DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY AGNE JASEVSKIENE OF ROSY CHEEKS PHOTOGRAPHY

100+ Tri-Cities Women Who Care, a local giving circle, hosted its second event on May 9. Members nominated 28 local nonprofits and three were selected at random to present at the event: Appalachia Service Project, Honor Flight of Northeast Tennessee, and Seasons of Hope. A representative of each charity spoke briefly and answered questions, and then members voted for the organization they want to receive the Big Give donation of approximately $12,000.

Seasons of Hope was selected as the event recipient. The organization focuses on families that don’t meet the standard guidelines for assistance through other agencies. Seasons believes in H.O.P.E. - Helping families who have fallen on hard times. Opening our hearts to show compassion to others. Providing not only physical but emotional assistance. Empowering our families to eventually give back to the community that has helped them.

Members of the giving circle pledge to give $100 to the selected nonprofit each quarter; teams of two to four women can work together to make this donation. The club currently has about 170 members who will give about $12,000 to a local charity every three months. Their donations to Seasons of Hope will be used to purchase diapers for the Bundles of Hope TriCities Diaper Pantry and feminine hygiene products for Angela’s Dignity Closet.

Becca Davis, founder of the group, said, “Our goal is to make a significant impact in the Tri-Cities region. There is a lot of need in our area, but we also have a lot of generous people who want to support worthwhile causes. We are thrilled to have so many women participating in our giving circle, especially considering how new the group is.”

The group will next meet on August 8. Women (individuals or teams) who are interested in joining can complete a short form on the club’s website, www. tricitieswomenwhocare.com.

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Johnson City CARTER AND BRANDON

DANIEL GUY AND BRI FLETCHER

ASH AND ALY WILLIAMS

Pie Wars: Return of the Dough EVENT COVERED BY ALLISON GALLOWAY

May the Force be with you…at the 3rd Annual Pie Wars! The 2019 Pie Wars: Return of the Dough was held on Thursday, May 9th at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City. The pizza competitors were Bella Vita, The Main Street Pizza Company, Marco’s Pizza, Mellow Mushroom, Scratch Brick Oven, and Scores Grille – all vying for the titles of Best Overall Pizza, Best Cheese Pizza, Best Pepperoni Pizza and Best Crust. These elite titles were voted on by the attendees.

All proceeds from the event benefited the Crumley House, which was voted on by the Young Professionals of Tri-Cities Facebook followers. The Crumley House goal is to provide assistance and support to those with traumatic brain injury as they transition from acute rehabilitation to gaining independence.

COURTNEY AND GAVIN ANDREWS

JASON AND EBONY

TAYLOR LEWIS AND BLAKE SMITH CAC STAFF

RILEY AND EMILY COLLINS

KELLY DOBSON AND TABITHA DOTSON

The mission of the Young Professionals of Tri-Cities is to connect young professionals in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol and the surrounding areas both socially and professionally, to improve the quality of life for regional YPs through unique social, professional and philanthropic opportunities, to strengthen the local economy and workforce by encouraging YPs to remain in the Tri-Cities region, offering them exclusive social opportunities, and connecting them with other professionals and potential employers in the area.

TAMMY AND CHUCK ANDERSON

For more information, visit facebook.com/pg/yptri. vipseenmag.com

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Johnson City MACAYLA WISER AND CAYLEIGH SHAW

MELISSA AND ANNELIESE CRIDER

ELIZABETH WEEMS, BETH ZINNANTI, LIZBETH FREGOSO, AND OLIVIA THOMAS

Pickin’ in the Schoolyard EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

On Friday, May 3rd, University School in Johnson City held their annual “Pickin’ in the School-Yard”, which is a fundraiser for University School’s JAM program. The JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) program is a multi-state music program that uses small group string band classes and instruments common to the Appalachian area to introduce students to the music of their communities. “Pickin’ in the School-Yard” is a yearly celebration of traditional music that features JAM. Elementary, Middle School, and High school students, as well as bands from ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies. In addition to the music, this fund-

raiser featured various art and craft vendors, a food truck, and a flower truck!

The JAM program aims to provide communities with the tools and support they need to teach children to play and appreciate traditional old time and bluegrass music and cultures. The group music lessons provided at University School are provided by students of the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies Program at ETSU and/or artists from the community.

As JAM is on the cusp of expanding further into the region, please be on the lookout for forthcoming information. To show your support for JAM, please contact Kim Allison at allisonk@etsu.edu.

SUZANNE HAMMONDS FROM THE JC SOAP COMPANY

SENIOR JAM BAND

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL TEACHERS, LINDSAY LESTER AND ERIN DORAN

CHARLOTTE’S FLOWER TRUCK

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ALYSSA GREENE

VOLUNTEERS MELANIE FRENCH AND ANNA DAVIDSON

NOLAN MCCLAIN, INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

KYLE, JORDAN AND AUSTIN

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

Johnson City

KAPPA DELTA SORORITY

EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

A combined effort from Fraternity and Sorority Life, OASIS, and the Counseling Center at ETSU helped to bring awareness to sexual assault by walking a mile in their shoes.

This is the 5th year for the event that took place in Borchuck Plaza near the ETSU library on April 11, 2019. The event is a part of a national movement to bring awareness to sexual assault, especially on college campuses.

TINA JOHNSON AND RACHEL SHANKS

The event invites men in the community to come and wear a pair of high heel shoes and to make the mile walk in them so as to advocate for and to educate others on sexual assault prevention and awareness.

OASIS director Kate Emmerich gave a rousing talk about the need for awareness about sexual

assaults, and how we need to remove the stigmas of it being a fault of women or their responsibility to prevent their own assaults.

Some men used the signature red heels supplied for the event, but others brought their own personalities and shoes for the event to really get the feel for it. There were thigh-high heels, camouflage heels, and open-toe heels, just to name of few.

The event started with a demonstration by hosting sorority Kappa Delta as they gave the men “best practices” in walking, falling, and standing in heels before making their way a mile in her shoes. They used Interfraternity Council President Nolan McClain as a model.

MEMBERS OF SIGMA KAPPA AND ALPHA SIGMA PHI SIGMA SIGMA RHO SORORITY INC ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC

OFFICER MITCHELL, BUCKY THE BUCCANEER AND MIKE EZEKIEL

KATE EMMERICH

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Johnson City

JOHN HUNTER AND KRISTAN GINNINGS

RAVEN HOMSAKER AND KRYSTAL HOLDER

5th Annual State of the City, County, Town Luncheon EVENT COVERED BY HALEY WHITE

The Johnson City Chamber of Commerce hosted the fifth annual State of the City, County, Town Luncheon on May 9th. Johnson City Mayor Jenny Brock, Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy and Jonesborough Mayor Chuck Vest addressed a full room of local business representatives, government leaders and economic development officials at the Millennium Center. Each took turns addressing unique topics such as infrastructure, tourism and recreation, and regional collaboration. Johnson City, Washington County, and Jonesborough are all strong and legislators look towards the future with positivity. They plan to invest in the region’s assets to promote growth in the population.

ALISHA SUMMERS AND MAYOR JENNY BROCK

DETRA CLEVEN, WILL BARNETT, AND MAYOR JOE GRANDY, WASH. COUNTY

ALAN HILL AND PETE PETERSON

AMANDA BARRETT AND DANI HUBERT

EASTMAN CREDIT UNION, EVENT SPONSOR

FIRST BANK AND TRUST

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MAYOR CHUCK VEST, JONESBOROUGH

ROBIN AND JEFF WILLIAMS

Johnson City

EMILY PATTERSON, CHRISTINA CAMPBELL, AND LIZ THORNTON

Blue Jean Ball and Benefit EVENT COVERED BY RACHEL K. BURRUS

The 1st annual Blue Jean Ball and Benefit took place on May 18, 2019 at the Venue at the King Center in Johnson City, TN to raise money and awareness for perinatal mental health. The mission of Cherished Mom is to provide important self-care and education to new moms, families, and healthcare professionals in the community. The founder and president of Cherished Mom, Kristina Dulaney, describes the primary product of the new nonprofit as free self-care boxes to new moms after they view a series of required educational videos about post perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

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Sara Reed, IBCLC, owner and operator of the Nursing Nook, is the leader of a local support group that meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 6-7:00 pm for moms to come together as a community. “It’s to let moms know that you’re not alone,” says Jesse Rasnick. “What you go through is normal. You’re not crazy.”

Steven D’Achille, founder and president of the Alexis Joy D’Achille Foundation for Postpartum Depression, spoke about his experience following his wife’s death from complications of PPD in 2013. “Women need education and support,” says Kristina Dulaney. “We want the Box Project to be the norm. Steven D’Achille is a voice for women, moms, and families to spread what he has created like wildfire.”

The Blue Jean Ball was a great celebration of wonderful food, entertainment, and fun while also securing crucial funds for programs and boxes for the Cherished Mom’s primary project.

For more information, please visit www.cherishedmom.org.

JESSE RASNICK, KRISTINA DULANEY, AND SARA REED LEAD AND FACILITATE THE CHERISHED MOM PERINATAL SUPPORT GROUP

WES DELANEY, KRISTINA DELANEY, AND STEVEN D’ACHILLE

Luttrell Staffing Group Founders: Marty Luttrell and David Luttrell

Erwin The Great Outdoors Festival PHOTOS COURTESY OF RISE ERWIN STORY BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

On May 4th 2019 The City of Erwin and Rise Erwin held the fourth Great Outdoors Festival, a grassroots effort to promote recreational opportunities in Unicoi County. This festival has something for all ages; including outdoor themed vendors, food trucks, a craft beer tent, hiker friendly activities, a kid-zone, and a petting zoo! Visitors were able to try their hand at different outdoor activities such as archery, casting a fly line, or paddle boarding. They could also stock up at the farmer’s market or enjoy the live music provided by My New Favorites, The Pinkerton Raid, Jubal, and 49 Winchester.

Jonesborough

The Great Outdoors Festival is always an opportunity for locals to come out and simply enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful Appalachian area. This festival is a chance to appreciate all that upper East Tennessee has to offer. The festivities continued all day until the late afternoon when rain swept through. Luckily it didn’t put too much of a damper on all the fun to be had!

The Women’s Leadership Society of United Way of Washington County STORY AND PHOTOS BY LEXIE LITTLE

The Women’s Leadership Society of the United Way of Washington County gathered for dinner Tuesday, April 30, at the Wedding Loft in Downtown Jonesborough to share common goals and differing perspectives on how to help their communities when life takes unexpected or downward turns. The group tapped Ballad Health Trauma Informed Administrator Becky Haas as keynote speaker to share the foundations by which she helps others when life proves challenging – living by scripture.

The YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia named Haas a Tribute to Women award winner the weekend prior for her ability to transform lives in her community through the Holy Friendship Summit, which addresses opioid abuse and treatment, and through her work at Ballad Health where she trains health care team members to better address those affected by various traumas with mindfulness and empathy.

The Women’s Leadership Society aims to serve the county through philanthropy and service. First Tennessee Bank/FTB Advisors acts as a

YVETTE BRYAN AND ANDREA PENDER

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sponsor in conjunction with the United Way to support not only meals, but the community service initiatives of the women involved.

“It’s just a way to get powerful women in the community together to embrace each other and help fight community issues, but we always have a powerful speaker – a local speaker,” United Way of Washington County President and CEO Kristan Ginnings said. “There’s so much talent in this room, and being able to share each other’s stories, I think, is powerful.”

The first of its kind in the region, the Women’s Leadership Society hopes to set a model for women’s voices in community-driven initiatives. With more than 80 women involved, the society maintains a vision of growth for Washington County and its female leaders.

Established in 1887, United Way brings communities together to spearhead positive change through volunteering and giving. The United Way of Washington County (UWOWC) is one of nearly 1,800 chapters globally. UWOWC supports health, education, and financial stability for citizens. For more information or to get involved, visit uwowc.org.

TARA FINDLAY, KELLY RANSON, BRENDA WHITSON, AND CLAUDIA BYRD

LINDA WALLACE AND JAN JACOBSON

LAURA LEVINE, ROBIN CRUMLEY, CINDY HAGEMANN, REBECCA HENNESSEE, AND BECKY HAAS

Kingsport ANGELA AND FORD DAVIS

STEVE JOHNSON AND ALAN LEVINE

Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA Business Hall of Fame EVENT COVERED BY LINDA COFFEY

Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA held their Business Hall of Fame celebration on Tuesday, May 9, 2019, at MeadowView Resort. For the past twenty-six years, selected community leaders have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes leaders of commerce and civic venture, who have provided examples of courage, entrepreneurship, and generosity.

The packed room paid tribute to two people whose bold leadership and focus on innovation is mapping the course and blazing new trails for Tri-Cities TN/VA commerce.

Olan Jones, CEO of Eastman Credit Union since 1998, has helped ECU’s assets grow from $650 million to $4.5 billion. The employee headcount has grown from about 100 to more than 800.

Olan credits his father for teaching him how to work with others, including the importance of using the Golden Rule in the workplace. Olan’s personal philosophy has translated into ECU’s corporate culture:

OLAN AND SYLVIA JONES

“Work hard and treat everyone you meet with respect.”

Steve Johnson, founder, and principal of Johnson Commercial Development, ended his pro football career with a knee injury. While rehabbing in Southwest Virginia, along with his then-father-inlaw, he began to develop the Virginian, a private gold residential community. As residents asked about amenities, Johnson began developing the property around Exit 7 off Interstate 81.

Johnson Commercial Development’s two most visible project in the region are the Alpha Natural Resources corporate headquarters building, and the Pinnacle, a shopping and entertainment complex.

ISRAEL AND EMILY O’QUINN

Junior Achievement has been building partnerships between business and education in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia for over 53 years.

For more information, visit their website at http://tricities.ja.org

MICHAEL BENNETT AND JULIE BENNETT

JULIE AND CHAD WALLACE

DAN AND KATIE MAHONEY WITH NIKKI AND SCOTT NISWONGER

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DONNA AND DENNIS DEPEW

STEVE HURET

HALL OF FAME PAST LAUREATES

JUDY MANESS AND LIZA HARMON

LAURA AND RUSSELL AYSCUE

JEFF AND ROBIN WILLIAMS

JEFF AND SUZI LITTLE

MARCY WALKER AND MITCH MEREDITH

STEVE JOHNSON WITH ANGELA AND FORD DAVID

MICHELE PLESCIA

ANDY DIETRICH, JENNY FEATHERS, AND BILL ARGABRITE

JOE HARVEY

TOM AND JENNY ROGERS

CATHY SALLEY

ALAN AND LAURA LEVINE WITH MILES BURDINE

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Kingsport LISA WRIGHT AND MELISSA FREEMAN WITH CITI

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JENNIFER EAVES

Go Red for Women 2019 EVENT COVERED BY HALEY WHITE

The 2019 Go Red For Women event took place on May 2 at MeadowView Marriott Resort and Conference Center. Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s movement to end heart disease and stroke in women all over the world. The event featured interactive stations such as blood pressure screenings hosted by Ballad Health, heart healthy fiesta inspired snacks hosted by Food City, CPR demos hosted by The American Heart Association, and a photobooth hosted by Bank of Tennessee.

The main event was the Go Red for Women Celebration, where survivors shared their stories and encouraged others to join the movement.

BENTLEY AND CARA CONLEY

BECKY PROFFITT AND BRENDA PENIX

SHELLY KEYS AND DONNA HUGHES WITH CITI LORI HAMILTON, DETRA CLEVEN AND KELLI PHILLIPS

ELIZABETH HALL, RD AT FOOD CITY

JEANNIE GOODMAN CIRCLE OF RED MEMBER DANICA POWELL AND DONNIE SPARKS

DETRA AND ANNIKA CLEVEN

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TINA HENSON AND TANYA TISOR

AMY LYNN (WJHL) AND DETRA CLEVEN

WHITNEY CARR (VIPSEEN LIVE!) AND SCOTTIE HOOGKAMP

CLAIRE MARR, TAMMIE HEATON, AND LORI CRISP

In the United States, cardiovascular diseases kill approximately 1 in 3 women each year. Go Red for Women advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. For 15 years, the American Heart Association has fought for equal health opportunities for women- in research, diagnosis and treatment and elevated awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women.

SHERRY LARKINS AND SHERRY RUSH (CITI)

ALIE BASSETT

To learn more visit GoRedforWomen.org

MICHELE PLESCIA

REBECCA AND JACKSON WHITE

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Kingsport MIKE HAMMONTREE AND DON CAMPBELL

CINDY HUMPHREY, JULIA DAVIS AND MARILYN MARTIN

Marsh Regional Blood Center

6th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament

JEFF AND SERENA PECOR

EVENT COVERED BY HALEY WHITE

Marsh Regional Blood Center hosted its 6th annual scholarship golf tournament on April 26th at Warriors Path Golf Course. Individuals and teams were invited to hit the course for a great cause. All proceeds from the event fund scholarships and educational grants awarded to high schools throughout the region.

MARSH TEAM

JIM BORST AND TONY MELSON

JEFF PECOR AND MICHAEL FARTHING SAM JONES AND JULIA DAVIS

TEXAS ROADHOUSE TEAM

Marsh Regional Blood Center has been the largest hometown supplier of blood and blood products in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia for more than 70 years.

GIVE HERE, HELP HERE! Visit www.marshblood.com JEFF PECOR AND MICHAEL FARTHING

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SAM JONES AND DON GRINDSTAFF

Kingsport MONIQUE RICHARD ABBY NASH AND DAKOTA SEXTON AND MICHAEL EADES

JESSICA MELTON AND LARA KIBBE

ELISABETH COWART

JIM MCCONNELL AND MILTON CARTER FROM THE KINGSPORT DOWNTOWN ROTARY

CHRISTY CLEEK AND DAKOTA HALL

BUDS Prom 2019 EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

On Thursday April 25th the Dobyns-Bennett High School BUDS program held their 10th Annual BUDS Prom at the Allandale Picnic Pavilion. Twenty students with disabilities and 34 Dobyns-Bennett seniors got together for a day of dancing, food, and fun. The BUDS (Buddies Understanding Different Students) program along with the Kingsport Downtown Rotary started this event, also known as the BUDS Alternative Prom, to give the senior students a chance to have fun and celebrate the end of the school year with the special needs students they mentor. Every year the Kingsport Downtown Rotary sponsors and staffs the prom complete with a buffet, DJ, and photographer.

NATALIE HALE, CHRISTOPHER SIMMONS, AND KADE JOHNSON

LANIE HILL AND CHRISTOPHER SIMMONS

JOSHUA LONGWORTH SHOWS OFF HIS DANCE MOVES!

Buddies Understanding Different Students began in 2007 to allow students in the Functional Academics classes to interact with other high school students their age. All of the mentor buds are specially selected seniors that go through an extensive application process before being allowed to join the program. These seniors spend one class period a day working in the Functional Academics classroom acting as tutors and developing relationships with their fellow students. These students enter this program as peers and leave having created lasting friendships.

BUDS PROGRAM STAFF

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Kingsport LISA CHILDRESS, DELILAH’S GRANDMOTHER, AND PENNY FLEMING, DELILAH’S GREAT AUNT

Run Like a Princess 5K EVENT COVERED BY COURTNEY CARBERRY

Bays Mountain was covered in pink on the morning of April 27th as runners and walkers arrived for the 6th annual Run Like a Princess 5k/3k. Run Like a Princess is a 3k walk and 5k run hosted by the Princess Delilah Foundation. Each year the run supports the ongoing efforts of the foundation to provide support, positive energy, and encouragement to the parents of NICU babies, as well as for the nurses that care for them. The Princess Delilah Foundation provides gas and food gift cards for families traveling to and from hospital visits and “Princess Delilah’s Closet” care packages with NICU safe clothing, blankets, and hair bows. In addition to this, the foundation is currently working

LIA DAVIDSON, DELILAH’S PRIMARY NICU NURSE, AND DAUGHTER ADAIR

towards a $25,000 scholarship for ETSU in Delilah’s name to go towards a student going for their Masters in nursing for NICU/PICU.

ZAC

The Princess Delilah Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to honor the memory of Delilah Kennedy Watts, who was born premature and cared for in the NICU at Vanderbilt. The foundation’s mission is to pay forward the kindness, friendship, and generosity they were shown during Delilah’s life, and to be a continuing testimony of her fight, spirit, and charm. To learn more about the Princess Delilah Foundation, please call 423-571-3242.

SHARON ROGERS AND CARMEN STRICKLER

WATTS FAMILY

JEFF WATTS, DELILAH’S FATHER

ERIN HAVRILLA, CHARGE NURSE WHILE DELILAH WAS IN THE NICU

KATIE MCLAIN AND EMMA CLARK

ELIZABETH MCLAIN, RHONDA RICHARDS, AND NEWMAN

CHRIS AND PEGGY

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MARCIE AND MEADOW PERRY

Kingsport

STEVEN AND SARAH

KRYSTAL PARRIS AND HEATHER LUBRANO

NICOLE STEEL

BRITTANY AND SKYLAR BURKE

Appalachian March for Babies EVENT COVERED BY HALEY WHITE

March of Dimes hosted the Appalachian March for Babies on April 27 at The Pinnacle in Bristol. The event provided fun for the entire family! Music and light snacks were provided and the kids zone included inflatables, face-painting, a Superhero Sprint, and a NICU Reunion Tent. This year’s Ambassador Family was the Harris family. Their son, Desmond Blake, was born at 27 weeks, weighing a little over two pounds. Five years later, Desmond is a perfectly happy and healthy little boy! The event hoped to raise $82,000 this year.

HALI COX AND REGINA JILTON

“One in ten babies are born prematurely, and that’s just not acceptable. It takes leaders in our community working together to ensure more moms have healthy pregnancies. More than 20,000 companies are partnering in March for Babies to help reduce the premature birth rate and improve the health of babies.” Darren Lowe, Enterprise Holdings, 2019 March for Babies Chair.

COLLEEN AND LEXIE

ABIGAIL AND DARREN LOWE

DARREN LOWE, LISA GATES, AND TEAM DESMOND BLAKE

March of Dimes fights for the health of all moms and babies. We’re advocating for policies to protect them.

We’re working to radically improve the healthcare they receive. We’re pioneering research to find solutions.

We’re empowering families with the knowledge and tools to have healthier pregnancies. By uniting communities, we’re building a brighter future for us all.

ENTERPRISE TEAM

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Kingsport ZOE AND TONI SWAVELY

Talk Derby To Me

SHARON AND DARELL DUNCAN QUINDALYN AND ANTONIA

EVENT COVERED BY ALLISON GALLOWAY

The 4th Annual H.O.P.E. Dinner and Fundraiser “Talk Derby to Me” was held on Saturday, May 4th at Taylored Venue and Events in Kingsport.

The Kentucky Derby themed-party offered a silent auction, a delicious dinner, and a fun deejay to dance to. Guests donned their big hats and bow ties for the occasion. Mint juleps, the iconic Kentucky Derby drink, was served.

Proceeds benefitted H.O.P.E.

RICHARD AND MARTHA HICKS

CHAIBA BLOOMER, HALEY WHITTLE, AND KELLEY MORAN

JASON PHILLIPS AND BRANDY ADAMS DR. KEITH AND SHIRLEY JOHNSON PATRICIA STOVER AND LYDIA HAWKINS

H.O.P.E. (Help Our Potential Evolve) is a non-profit community organization whose purpose is to provide education to local area youth in order to build future business and community leaders. Education includes life and social skills, multi-cultural awareness, community service, outreach and networking skills and other developmental skills as needed.

ROY AND CHRISTINA RICHMOND ED AND PAM MAHAFFEY

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For more information visit www.hopetricities.com or call (423) 276-6541.

Kingsport ANDREW AND EMILY MERRITT

SETH WHITE AND BARBARA NIEMCZAK

Ballet and Bubbly

CHARLOTTE BRITTON AND CLAIRE BLACK MONIQUE RICHARD AND MICHAEL EADES

EVENT COVERED BY ALLISON GALLOWAY

LISA FORD AND TAMMY HOBBS

GAIL AND ANTHONY COLE

Ballet and Bubbly was held at the beautiful and historic Rotherwood Mansion in Kingsport, Tennessee. Built in 1818 and the focus of countless infamous tales, Rotherwood Mansion was the perfect setting for this year’s event. Guests had the chance to explore the three-story home, see the beautiful renovations both inside and outside, and enjoy the spring evening on the grounds above the Holston River. It served as an incredible backdrop for a contemporary performance by the Kingsport Ballet and an excellent jazz musical performance by The Diamonds. Attendees also enjoyed delicious gourmet fare accompanied by select wines and champagne to round out this memorable evening.

Proceeds from the event went to support outreach programs, scholarships, and other special programs at Kingsport Ballet.

ANNA AND CHRIS MANLEY

MIKE HOUSERIGHT, SUSAN MCKINNEY, ASHLEY CAVENDAR, AND ANTHONY PELUSO

STEPHANIE AND DR. CARL SMITH

JILL SALYERS AND KRISTA JOHNSON

VALENTINA GONZALEZ, ASHLEY ENGLISH, AND AGNE JASEVSKIENE

MIKE AND VIVIAN MCINTIRE

AMY LYNN CRAWFORD AND OTIS THORNTON

Kingsport Ballet is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and foster professional quality dance through education, performance, outreach, advocacy and marketing.

For more information, visit www.kingsportballet.org or call 423-378-3967.

LEAH DARNELL AND LYDIA PORTER

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Kingsport CHRIS FINLEY AND ALLISON ROGERS OF BAE SYSTEMS

Medal of Honor Luncheon EVENT COVERED BY LINDA COFFEY

CPT. HERB LADLEY

VANESSA BENNETT AND LORA BARNETT

On Monday, May 6th, Leadership Kingsport held the 3rd annual luncheon to honor a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Sponsors for the event were Raymond James, BAE Systems, Food City, and Tri Cities Military Affairs Council.

provided information and updates to friendly forces, allowing precision airstrikes to stifle the enemy’s attack and ultimately permitting medical evacuation aircraft to rescue him, his fellow soldiers, Marines, and Afghan Army soldiers.

Sgt. Kyle J. White spoke to the full room at Food City about his experience on November 9, 2007.

White went beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio telephone operator with Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne) in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.

Upon return to the United States and civilian life, White received a degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is employed as an investment analyst. He recommended that all soldiers develop a skill or trade after serving in the military, and also stressed the importance of seeking help with posttraumatic stress.

Specialist White and his comrades were returning to Bella Outpost from a shura with Aranas Village elders. As the soldiers traversed a narrow path surrounded by mountainous, rocky terrain, they were ambushed by enemy forces from elevated positions. While pinned against a steep mountain face, Specialist White and his fellow soldiers were completely exposed to enemy fire. White was briefly knocked out when a grenade landed nearby. When he regained consciousness, he returned fire while administering medical aid and comfort to nearby wounded soldiers. With their radios inoperative, White exposed himself to enemy fire to secure a radio from a deceased comrade. He then

BECKY ROCKWELL AND JAMES PHILLIPS

Sgt. White is the seventh living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the war in Afghanistan.

President Obama presented the medal to him on May 13, 2014, at a White House ceremony. Sgt. White says that he wears the medal with the memory of his comrades that fought and died beside him in Afghanistan. White wants their names to be known and the story of that day to be told.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces.

SGT. KYLE J. WHITE

ROB ARNOLD, BECCA STUPHEN, RHONDA SMITH, AND LORI PAYNE

JOHN DAVISON AND SGT. KYLE J. WHITE

JOE THOMPSON OF RAYMOND JAMES

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DENNIS PHILLIPS, HANK HAYES, AND ERNIE RUMSBY

june 2019

JOHN JONES, RAYMOND STOCKARD, AND BRANDON MOWELL OF FOOD CITY

MGYSGT KENNETH LANE AND MILES BURDINE

MILES BURDINE, JOSH HALL, AND BILL KILGORE

BILL KILGORE, SGT. KYLE J. WHITE, AND ERNIE RUMSBY

JACK BLOOMER, SGT. KYLE WHITE, AND CHAIBA BLOOMER

Kingsport KELSEY FRAZIER, JILL RUST, DONNA BAKER, JESSICA MASKEW, AND MEREDITH SIEBER

Painting for a Cure EVENT COVERED BY LINDA COFFEY

DONNA BAKER

Brookdale Senior Living hosts two “Creative for Life” activities each month to benefit Alzheimer’s awareness. Knowing that residents and their families love to paint, Jessica Maskew (Activities Director) developed the idea to host a “Painting for a Cure” event on Tuesday, April 16th, with the proceeds going to the local Alzheimer’s Association.

“Painting for a Cure” was a fun event to create a lasting memory of the love that keeps us all searching for a cure. As guests arrived, they enjoyed appetizers prepared by Holly Raglew, the chef at Brookdale. Sherry Tilson, Executive Director of Brookdale, provided instructions for creating the masterpieces and then the fun commenced.

Brookdale has a history of supporting the Alzheimer’s Association. The national organization of Brookdale facilities, headquartered in Nashville, have committed to raising one million dollars in 2019. Brookdale has the distinction of being a Diamond National Team for the past five years.

Future events at Brookdale to promote support for Alzheimer’s will include a “Shoe and Bag” sale and a “Pie Toss.”

To learn more about Alzheimer’s and how you can join the fight to find a cure, visit their website at www.alz.org. For information on Brookdale Senior Living, their web address is www.brookdale.com.

JESSICA MASKEW

JILL RUST

STORM STORM DRAIN DRAIN ART ART CONTEST CONTEST

nual! n A d 2n

The city is using art to educate the public about the connection between our storm drains and rivers.

To Enter: Send a color sketch of your proposed artwork around a storm drain.

Artwork may include the street, sidewalk or both.

Text is encouraged to convey the educational message.

Be sure to include your name, phone and email.

Paint is supplied & the winning artists receive $100!

Special thanks to our sponsors!

Artist: Lauren Whipple Location: Market Street Knox County , TN

Artists: Dalton Higgins, Audrey Hammonds, & Suzanne Barrett Justis Location: Market Street

Mail or hand deliver entries by August 1 to: Amanda McMullen Stormwater Division 1113 Konnarock Rd Kingsport, TN 37664 Late entries will not be accepted. All submitted materials will become property of the City of Kingsport & will not be returned.

Got questions?

Call 423-229-9325.

Springfield, OR

Kingsport

LISA POTTER, LAUREN PATERSON, AND EMILY BROWN

AUSTIN AND CHRIS RAMSEY

LORI TEMPLETON

MICAH

Appalachian Highlands Twenty under 20 CHRISSY IDLETTE AND JANE HILLHOUSE

EVENT COVERED BY LINDA COFFEY

TOM TULL PRESENTS AND ADIA BULAWA

The inaugural Twenty Under 20 recognition awards were presented on Tuesday, April 30th at Kingsport Civic Auditorium.

The event was produced by STREAMWORKS, an education program based in Kingsport.

STREAMWORKS is powered by Eastman in Education, and their corporate sponsor, Ballad Health.

Hostess for the evening was Lori Templeton, the 2019 Chair of the STREAMWORKS advisory council.

Lori shared how stories started to emerge about extraordinary individuals doing extraordinary things, and all of these individuals were under the age of 20. The STEAMWORKS council realized that the community needed to know about this next generation of leaders and the “Twenty under 20” initiative began.

Alan Levine made a special presentation to the parents of Matthew Millsaps. At age 14, Matthew was diagnosed with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He had just started high school and had a desire to continue his education.

He completed the required courses to receive his high school equivalency diploma at Northeast State University. He also attended STEAMWORKS camps. When Matthew was in the hospital, he decided to buy toys for the other children and became a role model to many. Matthew died in October of 2018, but his memory will live on to inspire others.

As the event ended, you could already hear whispers of plans for the next year. With the inspiration of STREAMWORKS and community support, it will be something to anticipate!

For more information on STREAMWORKS, visit their website at streamworkseducation.org.

Many individuals, organizations, and businesses were quick to support the event and helped to make it a remarkable event of celebrations, tears, and, most of all, hope.

The youngest winner of the night was Zoe Young, ten-years-old. Zoe is a lead engineer for her schools LEGO robotics team and led her team to a first-place finish in the table mission category.

Austin Osborne was not able to collect his trophy, so his little sister performed the honor. Austin graduated from high school early and enlisted in the US Airforce. At age 17, he became the youngest candidate to make it into Special Operations.

LORI PAYNE AND MILES BURDINE

A SPECIAL AWARD TO THE MEMORY OF MATTHEW MILLSAPS, ACCEPTED BY HIS PARENTS FROM ALAN LEVINE

SCOTT JEFFRESS AND BRIAN NOLAND

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Kingsport JENNY DUGGER AND JENNIFER SALYER

TIANNA STOREY AND ADAM GRAY

ANDY HALL AND CALVIN CLIFTON

Kingsport Fourth Friday Breakfast EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

Fourth Friday breakfasts sponsored by the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce are informative, a good way to network, and offers a whole host of other benefits, but rarely is it as emotional as the one held April 26, 2019.

The breakfast began with David Carrahan, author of a new book about Kingsport called “From Brooklyn to Kingsport� and touts the journey that brought Carrahan to the area and why he has embraced such a great community and the pride he has in it.

His presentation was followed by an update

by Visit Kingsport on the impact that events and programs in Kingsport have on the community, and how those events turn into tax savings for residents. Some of those events like Wing Fling, Racks by the Tracks, and the regional favorite Funfest helped to make Sullivan County number 7 in the list of revenue producing counties in Tennessee and garnered a revenue of $49 million since 2006.

The update by Visit Kingsport ended with an update on the Miracle Field, a complex being constructed in phases that includes sports fields and a playground that allows for children of all ages and abilities to take part in active play. It will feature specialized material covering

the field that allows for wheel chairs, walkers, and is softer to allow for easier falls.

The video used to promote the field left the audience with tears of joy about the project. To continue the emotion was a group of children from Robinson Middle School that were recognized by State Senator Jon Lundberg for their hard work and star power.

This was followed by recognition of Samantha Parrish, a student at Northeast State Community College that has been named a 2019 Dream Scholar, only one of eight people across the country to achieve this honor.

Parrish read her poem that helped get the award. It was a profound statement of where she came from and who she has become.

The emotion continued as Vanessa Bennett led the crowd in a good-bye and good luck to Melissa Sanders, Director of Downtown Kingsport Association, who will be ending her time in Kingsport. Sanders thanked the guests for the many great memories she has made here in Kingsport, including welcoming her first child. The chamber gifted Sanders with a print of Kingsport.

NICOLE AUSTIN AND TYLER RAMEY

BETHANY FLORA, PRESIDENT OF NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH DREAM SCHOLAR SAMANTHA PARRISH AND BOB FEATHERS

PAT BREEDING AND HEATHER COOK

CHRIS AND MELISSA SANDERS, ALLIE ADAMS, AND BRAD HOOVER

JACKIE HEWITT AND LUTHER CAIN

Kingsport Chamber is comprised of two non-profit organizations that work in conjunction to bring economic and promotional support to businesses in Kingsport.

The Kingsport Chamber Foundation manages, promotes, and assists charitable and community programs that focus on the quality of life that impact the community.

The Chamber of Commerce utilizes resources to make Kingsport a viable business environment. It has over 1,000 member on their rosters.

TN STATE SENATOR JON LUNDBERG AND NASH

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KINGSPORT WING FLING TEAM

More information about the chamber can be found online at KingsportChamber.org or by calling (423) 392-8800.

Blountville CARSON AND JESSI WAUGH

ELAINE AND BILL WASHINGTON

MICHELLE ARNOLD AND SHELLY WISEMAN

Northeast State Foundation

Derby Day Party EVENT COVERED BY LEXIE LITTLE

While the whisky gentry walked the grounds of Churchill Downs for the 145th racing of the Kentucky Derby, the Northeast State Foundation continued to run its race for student success with the seventh annual Derby Day Party at the Ron Ramsey Regional Agriculture Center on May 4.

Around 180 supporters donned their finest seersucker, fascinators, and all shades of pastels to watch the “fastest two minutes in sports” and to support the student scholarship and development funds. Casey Goetz, sports director at party sponsor WCYB, welcomed attendees to the event with important reminders:

JIM AND CAROLYN AUSTIN, LOUISE AND TODD DICKSON, ROBYN LAMB, DENNIS BEAMER, AND TEDDI AND MARK ADLER

“It is now getting closer to the action,” Goetz said. “The silent auction will be going on until 6:30 p.m. ...but right now, one of the main reasons we’re here is to eat some food.”

Ticketed in advance, guests could dine on hors d’oeuvres and sip mint juleps, while bidding on auction items like a Derby Glass Collection (1977-86), a football signed by former Tennessee Volunteer and New England Patriot Jerod Mayo, and gifts from local retailers like Cranberry Lane.

Two screens on either side of the deejay stage projected the race in the main event area of the center named for former Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who hails from Blountville. The Agriculture Center sits within 1.5 miles of the Northeast State main campus, closer than the prior party venue, the Foundation Event Facility in Downtown Bristol.

CONNIE MARSHALL AND JENNIFER PICKETT

SAM AND JANET ROWELL

“We just wanted a change this year,” Director of Marketing Amanda Adams said. “We kind of wanted to be closer to the college. This one popped up, and we were like, ‘Man, this is a really nice venue.’”

The Ron Ramsey Regional Agriculture Center, located on Spurgeon Lane, opened in 2017 as a project spearheaded by the Sullivan County Cattlemen’s Association. Ramsey, still in office in 2015, helped to secure a $2.2 million grant to fund the facility that also supports agriculture education and events in the region. The conference area accommodates 300 people with a commercial kitchen for food preparation and demonstrations.

The Northeast State Community College Foundation, founded in 1986, exists to support academics, service, scholarships, and various other projects; functioning as the main fundraising arm of the college. For more information, visit northeaststate.edu.

KRISTEN PIERCE AND HUNTER MCNEELY

KATHY AND RAY FEAGINS

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Kingsport CAROLYN STRANBERG, SUMMER ROBERTSON AND TERESA RHOTON

CAROLYN DOERFERT AND LORI MARSH

American Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

The American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee held its annual Humanitarian of the Year Awards breakfast on April 11, 2019. The 8am breakfast ceremony was hosted by Josh Smith and attended by volunteers, community leaders, and guests that were impacted firsthand by the Red Cross.

with one store in Grundy, Virginia and worked to build the Food City stores to where they are today. K-VA-T operations have also taken three brand favorites in the area and brought them back to life with their “legacy” brands Terry’s Snack Foods, Misty Mountain Spring Water, and Kay’s Ice Cream.

Each year the organization recognizes a member of the community that has made a huge impact on the community. This year’s recipient of that award is Steve Smith, President and CEO of K-VA-T Food City stores.

Also recognized at the awards was the Robertson Family. Summer, Louis, and Kelsey Robertson became volunteers after receiving help from the Red Cross when their family’s home was destroyed by a fire. Summer said the way they were taken care of by the organization made her want to give back and help others the same way. Red Cross volunteer, Beverly Britt, was also recognized at the award for her 18 years of service sponsoring the Erwin Community Blood Drives.

Food City was vital in the effort to provide clean water and immediate necessities to the victims of the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires.

Food City also does a variety of programs throughout the year to get donations and food for Second Harvest Food Bank in their Race Against Hunger campaign. In November of each year, they assist area United Ways in their Celebrity Bagger fundraising campaign.

STEVE DARDEN AND MARCY WALKER

CLAUDIA BYRD AND JACKIE HEWITT

The American Red Cross of Tennessee can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or by visiting redcross.org.

Smith said his father and uncle started

KALEN COLLINS AND 2019 HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT STEVE SMITH

LARRY NELSON AND NAÏF ALMUTAIRI

MISS TENNESSEE OUTSTANDING TEEN 2019 TAYLOR PARSONS

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The American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee is a nonprofit organization that serves thirteen counties in the northeast Tennessee region. They are dedicated to helping victims of disaster and providing programs and services to help the community prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The organization offers a variety of certifications and courses including aquatics and water safety, lifeguarding, first aid & CPR. Kalen Collins is the Executive Director of the Northeast Tennessee Chapter. They are located at 660 Eastern Star Road in Kingsport, Tennessee. You can reach them by visiting redcross.org or calling (423-765-4222).

AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NORTHEAST TENNESSEE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

FOOD CITY

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JOSH SMITH, ANN PARSONS, MISS TN OUTSTANDING TEEN 2019 TAYLOR PARSONS, AND MARY HAMILTON